BMW, other European EV makers follow China’s lead to small models

PARIS/FRANKFURT, Germany — BMW and other European automakers are beefing up their EV lineups with small cars that can directly compete with cheaper Chinese imports, with some companies even partnering with Chinese rivals to avoid a sales slump.

At the Paris Motor Show, which runs until Sunday, BMW unveiled two electric vehicles under its compact Mini brand, showing its priority in the European electric car market ahead of any BMW-branded vehicles.