Just hours after the launch of the latest iteration of BMW‘s fully electric iX1 SUV in China, several dealers began listing the model with discounts that can reach up to 60,000 yuan — equivalent to $8,620.
The model was launched on Wednesday with prices starting from 228,000 yuan ($32,740).
However, BMW distributors show entry prices of just over 160,000 yuan ($22,980), as first reported by domestic media outlet Gasgoo on Thursday.
The pricing disparity shows the pressure that the German automaker’s battery-electric vehicle (BEV) lineup is facing in the highly competitive Chinese EV market.
Apart from the new iteration of the 2026 iX1, Chinese tech portal 36Kr reported last week that BMW plans to launch over 20 new vehicles in China this year.
Among them is the iX3 Long Wheelbase model, which the brand says was developed “in China, for China, and with China.”
The model is set to debut at the Beijing Auto Show in April.
New-Gen iX1 Specs
As the BEV version of BMW‘s internal combustion-engine (ICE) X1 model, the 2026 iX1 is available in four trims and two different powertrains.
The new five-seat SUV measures 4,616 mm in length, 1,845 mm in width, and 1,641 mm in height, with a 2,802 mm wheelbase.
In the new iteration, the model retains most of its design language, while focusing upgrades on equipment levels.
Both powertrain options are equipped with a 66.5 kWh ternary lithium battery pack.
The eDrive25L version features a front-mounted single motor with 204 horsepower, achieving a maximum CLTC range of 510 km (317 miles).
Meanwhile, the xDrive30L includes a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive (AWD) setup, producing 313 horsepower, with a CLTC range of up to 450 km (280 miles).
The latest iteration of the iX1 introduces a dual-screen layout, consisting of a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.7-inch central touchscreen, both powered by BMW’s latest iDrive 9 system.
Additionally, all variants of the model are now equipped with 5G connectivity as standard.
The model directly competes with Audi‘s Q4 e-tron crossover SUV and Mercedes-Benz‘s EQA compact SUV.
In China, BMW’s SUV portfolio competes with brands like XPeng, whose entry-level SUV G6 is priced from 176,800 yuan ($25,390), with the most recent G7 SUV starting at 235,800 yuan ($33,860).
Premium brand Nio‘s entry-level SUV ES6 is priced from 338,000 yuan ($48,540) if including the battery, with the price lowering to 241,800 yuan ($34,720) if the customer opts for the company’s Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) option.
BMW EV Sales
Last year, the BMW Group – which includes the BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce brands – sold a total of 442,072 EVs.
Electric vehicle registrations represented 18% of the Munich-headquartered Group’s 2025 total sales.
The fully electric market share rose from 1.9% back in 2020, when the company registered 44,541 EVs.
In China, BMW (including MINI) sold 625,527 vehicles last year, representing a 12.5% decline compared to 2024.
In the last quarter of 2025, the brand’s figures fell 15.9% year-over-year to 160,556 units.
Monthly sales data showed that the BMW iX1 sold just over 1,000 units, while the i3 compact recorded around 2,000 units, the media outlet Gasgoo reported on Thursday.
Sales of the other German car giants Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen Group fell by 19% and 8%, respectively.
