German automaker BMW said on Wednesday that the first pre-production units of the new-generation fully electric i3 model have rolled off the line at its Munich plant.
The new EV model — which was unveiled last September at the iX3 SUV debut — is set to begin production in the second half of this year.
Peter Weber, head of BMW Group‘s Munich plant, called the pre-production start of the new i3 sedan “an important milestone” for the facility. “For the first time, we have built a BMW i3 entirely at our plant,” he said.
The i3 nameplate was previously used for a compact electric hatchback produced from 2013 to 2022. BMW later assigned it to a G28-based electric sedan built and sold exclusively in China.
Now in pre-production, the new fully electric model is being tested “under real-world conditions across all technologies,” to discover and consequently fix any issues found during these.
“Over the coming months, we will apply the lessons learned from the ramp-up to further refine the processes for series production and ensure a smooth series launch,” Weber stated.
New I3’s Possible Specs
Although BMW has not disclosed any details yet, there are speculations based on its iX3 model.
The fully electric crossover SUV will be equipped with a 108.7 kWh battery pack, delivering a WLTP range of up to 805 km (500 miles).
Built on the new 800-volt architecture — also featured in the upcoming BEV version of the M3 sedan —, the model gains 257 miles of range after being plugged in for just 10 minutes.
It can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (0-36 mph) in 4.9 seconds.
The new I3 model will use the same Neue Klasse design language and technology as the ix3’s.
The new fully electric sedan is expected to be priced from around $50,000.
Upcoming Models
BMW plans to launch a total of 40 new and updated models next year.
Last month, the German automaker announced that it will launch the electric version of its M3 model in 2027, as part of the broader M Neue Klasse lineup.
Set to become the first BEV model in the brand’s M series, the new four-seat sedan was developed in the BMW Group‘s Research and Technology House near Munich.
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 Group’s 2025 total sales.
The fully electric market share rose from 1.9% back in 2020, when the company registered 44,541 EVs.
