Firstly, I ask Andrew whether, with the launch of the iX3 earlier this year, there has been any change in BMW’s fleet plans?

Jago said: “Firstly, the iX3 has been exceptionally well received within the fleet market. It’s worth mentioning that the previous-generation iX3 was out of the market for the best part of a year, so we had a gap in what is a core part of the corporate segment. To be back in that part of the market again is really important for us.

“To come back with an absolutely groundbreaking product — with that headline 500 miles of range, but also a price position that makes it very, very attractive against combustion alternatives as well — has generated a lot more interest on the retail side than we expected, which balances out the demand.

“That will certainly help residual value confidence as well, because there’s a retail market that I don’t believe has been seen before with any other electric product in the marketplace. So that’s a really positive message for us.

“Our second ‘40’ model is now on sale, and that’s brought the price point down by a further £5,500. So we can access more of the market now with that proposition. Obviously, that’s a 400-mile range story on the 40 — that’s great. Currently, we’ve got very, very strong demand for the 50 in M Sport trim, and the 40 just allows us to extend that appeal further.”

We’re meeting to have an early look at the heavily facelifted BMW 7 Series. That car is available as a plug-in hybrid as well, so I ask how the role of plug-in hybrid has changed in fleet for BMW over the past year.

Jago said: “From a 7 Series perspective, and with this Neue Klasse significant upgrade of the product, we’re coming from a position where two-thirds of the volume we were selling previously was pure electric. So, we’re already coming from a position of strength — the powertrain is very, very well accepted by the audience we’re selling into. With Gen 6 and its extended range, we can only continue to build on that.

“In the broader sense, the BMW and MINI range of electric products has been very much where the demand has been for some time. We’ve really cemented a strong position, and, certainly from the major corporates, that’s a much bigger share of our sales than plug-in hybrid.

“I think the key thing for us with Neue Klasse, and the extended range, is that where you might have had some elements of fleets who were a little reticent to make the leap to electrification, I think when you start talking about ranges of 400 or 500 miles plus — and 560 in the case of the i3 — suddenly those arguments go away quite quickly.

“So that makes it very usable. You don’t have to be reliant on home charging. You can use the public infrastructure entirely, which for some people is quite important. There are a lot of company car drivers who don’t have access to off-street parking or the ability to charge at home, or they might be in a communal area with an apartment and so on. So I think that’s important for us — there’s a part of the market we can absolutely resonate with now.

“I expect the dominance of electric power to become more commanding.”

My last question to Jago is about MINI. After going through a period of massive change, does MINI’s role within the portfolio remain the same?

Jago said: “I’m glad you asked that question. MINI is having a phenomenal year in the corporate space. We’re actually doubling our sales this year, and there are several reasons for that.

“Firstly, the Countryman Electric has a range that now exceeds 300 miles — in fact, it’s 310 miles. This means we can now get into more corporate policies with that product, because many corporates have a policy of a minimum 300 miles of range. So that’s opened the product up to more fleets.

“That has been a message we’ve needed to get out into the market, and it’s definitely landed. And, of course, on the Countryman E we also have the electric grant as well. So again, it’s made the accessibility of that car entirely attractive.

“So MINI’s having a really, really positive year in corporate, and it’s a staple part of our proposition from a BMW Group perspective.”