BMW is hurrying to ramp up production of the new i3 after opening orders early due to stronger-than-expected demand.
BMW i3 enters production as demand surges
The i3 is BMW’s second Neue Klasse model, following the iX3. After the iX3 entered production at BMW’s new manufacturing plant in Debrecen, Hungary, late last year, the i3 is now being built at BMW Plant Munich in Germany.
BMW opened orders for the new i3 in mid-June, months early, due to stronger-than-expected demand.
BMW’s sales boss, Jochen Goller, said the new i3 “is already seeing strong demand since orders opened ahead of its launch.”
Last week, after announcing it had built the 50,000th iX3 at its Debrecen plant, BMW said orders were on track to reach 100,000 soon. The accomplishment comes just nine months after kicking off series production, making it the fastest ramp-up at a new BMW plant to date.
Although BMW didn’t reveal how many orders the i3 had received, Goller said both the Neue Klasse models “are proving to be very popular,” leading to a steep ramp-up curve at the facilities.
BMW opened orders for the i3 50 xDrive Launch Edition in Germany on June 18, starting at €75,340 ($86,400). The base model will go on sale at the end of September, priced from €65,900 ($75,500).
The i3 is powered by BMW’s sixth-generation (Gen6) eDrive system and a 108.7 kWh battery, providing a WLTP driving range of up to 566 miles (912 km). The First Edition model gets up to 563 miles (906 km) of range.
In the US, the 2027 BMW i3 50 xDrive has an EPA-estimated driving range of about 440 miles, using the same 108.7 kWh battery.
Inside, the i3 features BMW Neue Klasse cabin setup that includes a 43″ Panoramic Vision display spanning the base of the windshield and a 17.9″ floating central infotainment display.
With an 800V architecture and DC fast-charging speeds up to 400 kW, the electric sedan can add nearly 250 miles (440 km) of range in about 10 minutes. In the US, the i3 will include a built-in NACS port.
BMW has yet to reveal prices for the 2027 i3 in the US, but it is expected to start at around $50,000 to $55,000, given the iX3 50 xDrive is available to order from $61,500. It will go on sale in early 2027.
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