BMW to build electric minis in China

China is the world's biggest market for electric cars

Production of the electric mini will start in Oxford in 2019 (Getty)

BMW is in talks with a Chinese carmaker to build electric Mini cars, alongside production in Oxford which is due to start in 2019.

The partnership between BMW and Great Wall Motor will most likely see electric minis made for the local Chinese market.

BMW and Great Wall Motor have yet to disclose the exact location of the new production line or when it will start making electric Minis in China.

The German carmaker announced, last July, plans to build the zero-emissions vehicle in Oxford beginning in 2019.

Mini currently makes around 60 per cent of its approximately 360,000 compact cars a year at the Oxford plant, according to Reuters.

Rival carmakers have already signalled their intent to claim a share of China’s growing electric car market.

China’s increasingly favourable policies towards building battery-powered vehicles are attracting carmakers to the region.

In December, Ford said it aims to launch 15 new electric cars by 2025 in China.

According to Bloomberg, China surpassed the US in 2015 to become the world’s biggest market for electric cars.