- World premiere of the BMW i3 in Munich
- Second model of the Neue Klasse model generation and first sedan
- BMW i3 50 xDrive the first variant to launch, featuring dual motor set-up
- Driving range capability of 900km1, according to the WLTP test cycle
- BMW New Zealand to introduce BMW i3 in early 2027
- Further details, including pricing and specification, to be announced at a later date
The first, fully electric BMW 3 Series, the BMW i3, had its world premiere today in Munich.
This new offering – the second model of the Neue Klasse following the BMW iX3 – enhances the familiar character of the legendary BMW 3 Series while bringing additional and unique features.
The BMW i3 represents a technological quantum leap into a new era, showcasing innovation, sophisticated styling, engaging dynamics and considerable electric driving range potential.
The launch variant will be the BMW i3 50 xDrive, which features an electric motor on both the front and rear axles. The combined system power output is 345kW1, while maximum torque is 645Nm1. The highly efficient sixth-generation BMW eDrive technology, together with the new BMW Panoramic iDrive and Heart of Joy, delivers driving pleasure on a level never experienced before. With BMW Symbiotic Drive, the assisted driving experience is also set to enter a new era.
The BMW i3 also stands for a modern interpretation of the hallmark design features of a BMW Sedan. As a representative of the new design language, the new BMW i3 is immediately recognisable as a BMW 3 Series – assured, dynamic and intelligent. The hallmark BMW sporty silhouette proportions are reflected in the new 2.5-box design.
Notable features are the long wheelbase, the greenhouse that slopes towards the rear and the short overhangs. The four-eyed face is familiar, yet still new. The BMW radiator grille and twin headlights merge into an innovative light signature, creating a powerful and expressive unit. The rear end, featuring prominently horizontal rear lights, further highlights precision and technological progress. The prominently flared wheel arches emphasise the sporty, wide stance of the new BMW i3. The interior offers a high level of spaciousness and makes full use of all the possibilities of the vehicle concept, which is consistently geared towards electromobility. At the same time, the interior represents driver-oriented sportiness. The new BMW Panoramic iDrive not only defines the modern and inviting interior, but also ushers in a new level of hallmark BMW driver orientation.
Sportiness and driving pleasure are invariably embedded in the DNA of the BMW 3 Series. Maximising the unmatched capabilities of electromobility, it offers impressively precise, effortless and assured handling. The Heart of Joy high-performance computer shapes the BMW i3 driving experience. Its responses are 10 times faster than in previous systems. Together with three other superbrain high-performance computers, the Heart of Joy forms the centrepiece of the new software and electronics architecture.
The new BMW i3 stands out for its excellent suitability for long journeys. Its range is up to 900 kilometres1 (in accordance with the WLTP test cycle). DC charging capacities of up to 400kW also drastically reduce charging times. The DC fast charger can recharge energy for up to 400km1 in 10 minutes (in accordance with ISO 12906 in the WLTP cycle). Sixth-generation BMW eDrive technology provides the prerequisites for this rapid progress. It comprises highly efficient electric motors, 800-volt technology and new high-voltage batteries with round cells. The cell-to-pack design enables high energy densities at pack level and a flatter high-voltage battery. The BMW i3 also features bidirectional charging functions Vehicle-to-Load, Vehicle-to-Home and Vehicle-to-Grid charging functions (local details on this capability to be announced in due course).
The BMW i3 will be manufactured at the BMW Group plant in Munich, home plant of the BMW Group. For more than 100 years, the plant in Milbertshofen, in the north of Munich, has been producing premium vehicles. Over the past four years, the plant has seen significant transformation. Alongside a new body shop, a cutting-edge vehicle assembly area incorporating logistics space has been constructed. The new buildings are in their final stages of expansion. Production of the new BMW i3 will start in these halls from August 2026, with New Zealand-bound vehicles due here in early 2027.
Also in 2027, the production portfolio at plant Munich will be switched to exclusively fully electric vehicles of the Neue Klasse. The plant conversion includes extensive modernisation measures.
All data provisional. Please note: Since no binding WLTP values are currently available, these are provisional values. In addition, the actual values depend on various factors, such as load, driving style, route, weather, auxiliary consumers (including air conditioning), tyres, and the age of the battery.
The BMW Group
With its four brands, BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial services. The BMW Group production network comprises over 30 production sites worldwide; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.
In 2025, the BMW Group sold 2.46 million passenger vehicles and more than 202,500 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2025 was € 10.2 billion on revenues amounting to € 133,5 billion. As of 31 December 2025, the BMW Group had a workforce of 154,540 employees.
The economic success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. Sustainability is a key element of the BMW Group’s corporate strategy and covers all products – from the supply chain through production to the end of their useful life.
