Munich - BMW is planning to test a fleet of several hundred Mini cars with zero-emission electric drive in the coming months, the car maker has announced.

BMW's CEO Norbert Reithofer said in Munich this would help gather more know-how on how "mobility can be efficiently ensured with vehicles running only on electric-drive."

The Minis, built in Oxford, England, would be shipped to the BMW plant in Munich where they would be modified for electric drive.

The tests would be conducted in the next 12 to 18 months with details of the drive concept and marketing to be announced by late 2008, said a BMW press statement.

Several car makers are planning to mass produce electric-drive vehicles. BMW's main rival Mercedes has announced it will offer an electric-drive SMART in 2010. VW is also planning an electric version of its concept car Up! According to reports, General Motors is working on presenting a production-ready version of the Chevy Volt by September. (dpa)