Is BMW ready to plug in?

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BMW is looking into the possibility of making a battery-powered car for the U.S. market. This is part of a bigger picture in which the company will be expanding its Spartanburg, S.C., facility to make all its products that happen to have an X or Z in their names (while downsizing its German workforce). This will make BMW a large vehicle manufacturer in the eyes of the U.S. government from 2012 — one therefore obligated to offer an ecologically compatible car.

The final decision will be made this year. The Germans still haven’t decided whether to go it alone or enter into collaboration with another manufacturer. Considering that BMWs are among the more driver-oriented cars, then a joint venture with someone that is already working on an electric sports car could be a good idea. And it seems that Tesla could use some help at the moment.

— Colin Ryan