BMW

Brand decrees the end of the line for the i3 model

BMW will end production of the i3 within six months, after a nine-year journey and approximately 250,000 cars sold.

The information was advanced by the British Autocar, citing a BMW spokesperson who confirmed that the departure of the last example of the i3 from the BMW production line in Leipzig, Germany, will take place in July, as there will be a “reorganization of the facilities to receive the start of production of the next MINI Countryman”.

The expansion of BMW's electric range was also one of the reasons behind this decision: "By the end of this year, the BMW Group will have six electric models on the market, with this number growing to 13 in 2023," said the aforementioned spokesman. Munich brand voice. Introduced in 2013, after first being seen in 2011 as a prototype, the i3 was the first member of BMW's 'i' family. Now it reaches the end of the line and will not have a direct successor.

As an alternative to the i3, the German company's spokesperson indicated two other electric vehicles in the BMW Group: "Today's drivers who want an electric car that is fully adapted for urban driving or a more spacious compact vehicle for an active lifestyle will have the opportunity to at your disposal the MINI Electric and the upcoming BMW iX1”.

Remembering that when it appeared in 2013, the i3 had only 190 km (NEDC) of autonomy, although a second version was also available that had a small 2-cylinder gasoline engine as a range extender.

The first update of the model appeared in 2016, with the battery increasing in capacity, which was reflected in the autonomy, which became 312 km (NEDC). In 2017, BMW launched the i3s, with a more powerful engine (10 kW or 13.6 hp more), a range of 280 km (WLTP) and more sporty tuning.

Only at the end of 2018 did BMW start selling the version with a 42.2 kWh battery and a maximum range of 310 km (WLTP), ending the version with a range extender in Europe.

Autonews