MINI has confirmed a fully electric version of its Countryman model is on the way and is to be built at the BMW factory in Leipzig.

As the first MINI to be made in Germany, the car will be built alongside the BMW 1 Series, BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe and BMW 2 Series Active Tourer which are also produced at the plant.

The new Countryman is due for release before the end of 2023 and will join the hatchback electric model which MINI has been selling for more than a year.

The brand recently announced a limited run of electric MINI Convertible models is also on the way.

Stefanie Wurst, head of MINI, said: "We are delighted to be able to hand over the first MINI "Made in Germany" to our customers in a CO2-neutral manner thanks to the plant's sustainable energy supply.

"In this way, the new all-electric MINI Countryman demonstrates what the brand stands for: electrified go-kart feeling and a strong focus on a minimal environmental footprint."

As the brand's largest model, the all-electric MINI Countryman leads a new MINI family into an era of electromobility which sees it on course to become fully-electric by 2030..

Further details of the new MINI EV are due to be released as the car enters production later in the year.