BMW

The electric BMW i3 is already a hit before even arriving

The i3 sedan is BMW's latest electric vehicle; production has already begun at the Munich plant—a facility that, after focusing on aircraft engines and motorcycles since 1922, had produced only internal combustion engine cars since 1952. Now, following a €650 million investment, the plant is equipped to produce exclusively electric vehicles from the *Neue Klasse* family. However, the most interesting development for the German manufacturer is that, even before customers could drive (or even see) the i3 sedan, orders piled up faster than expected—surpassing even the figures recorded for the also-new iX3 SUV, which went on sale in late 2025.

With an aesthetic that might not appeal to everyone immediately, the i3 generally showcases the design language of the new *Neue Klasse* family, sharing obvious styling cues with the iX3. Yet, given that the SUV was the first to hit the market—and reactions to it were not universally positive—the sedan’s lines appear more attractive. This explains the reception both models have received, with the sedan leading in orders, despite SUVs being the most sought-after body style in Europe and Portugal.

When iX3 production was relocated to Debrecen—the brand's new Hungarian plant designed specifically for battery-electric vehicles—it seemed likely that the remaining *Neue Klasse* models would follow suit. There were plenty of reasons for this, but the primary driver was lower production costs; costs in Debrecen are about 70% lower, largely due to labor expenses—specifically, R$ 15.60 in Hungary versus R$ 49.50 in Germany. However, the brand's strategy involves producing the i3 in Munich, alongside some of its upcoming "siblings."

Determined to have the i3 debut the brand's first manufacturing plant designed specifically for battery-electric vehicles, BMW completely overhauled its Munich factory—located next to the company's headquarters and central offices within the German manufacturer's historic facilities. Currently, only one version of the electric sedan is known: the i3 50 xDrive. It features dual motors (one on each axle) delivering a combined 469 hp, allowing it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds, with a top speed limited to 200 km/h.

Interestingly, these are not the i3 50 xDrive's main selling points, as potential customers are likely to prioritize charging speed. This new model utilizes an 800V architecture, enabling 400 kW charging and providing enough energy for an additional 423 km of range in just 10 minutes. Another key factor is range—as expected—given that the iX3, which uses the same battery (108.7 kWh usable capacity) but is less aerodynamic (drag coefficient of 0.24 vs. 0.22) and heavier (by 80 kg), already achieves 805 km on a full charge; the i3 improves upon this, offering 906 km between charges.

Orders for the new BMW i3 50 xDrive opened in June, with the market launch scheduled for October. The launch version in Portugal, known as the "First Edition," is priced at €74,000, while the base model starts at €65,500. The new i3 will enter a particularly fiercely competitive segment, where it will face the Tesla Model 3 Premium Long Range (€48,990)—the segment's long-standing sales leader—as well as promising newcomers like the Mercedes C400 4Matic (€70,600), another model to watch.

Early Success For The New BMW i3 Sedan...As you probably remember, BMW brought forward the start of pre-sales to meet strong demand. The order books opened across Europe in mid-June, when the luxury automaker launched a First Edition. It’s a well-equipped specification with plenty of standard kit and a €75,340 price tag in Germany. If you’d rather configure the i3 yourself, the order books for the standard €65,900 model open at the end of September.

BMW builds the standard-wheelbase model in Munich, as the stretched version manufactured in China sadly won’t make it to Europe or North America for that matter. The regular i3 will begin reaching early adopters in Europe this fall, with the First Edition taking precedence. The first shipments to the United States won’t happen until later in 2027.

The historic Munich plant won’t be the only factory in the BMW Group network to build the standard-wheelbase i3. Codenamed NA0, the electric sedan will also be assembled in Mexico at the San Luis Potosí plant from 2027, alongside the iX3. BMW’s oldest plant won’t build combustion-engine cars for much longer, as the site is switching entirely to EVs next year.

A More Practical i3 Is Coming Soon...Another Neue Klasse model confirmed for Munich is the i3 Touring (NA1). It was spotted undergoing testing earlier this week ahead of a highly likely launch next year. Like the sedan, it will get a diversified lineup, and we wouldn’t rule out a purely electric M3 Touring. It even has a codename, ZA1, or so we’ve heard.

If you’re wondering what’s happening to the conventionally powered 3 Series, BMW is moving production to Dingolfing. Only the G50 sedan has been confirmed so far, but we believe a long-roof G51 is also planned. The new 3er premieres before the end of the year, complete with a six-cylinder M Performance model. Another gas-fed M3 (G84) will follow sometime in 2028.

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