Zipse posing with a camouflaged iX3.
MUNICH: BMW is set to unveil the production model of its next all-electric iX3 SUV at the IAA Mobility show here this September.The iX3, a successor to the original model introduced in 2020, is currently undergoing final testing phases. It will be the first Neue Klasse model to launch.
Pre-production prototypes have been rolling off the assembly line at BMW's new plant in Debrecen, Hungary, since late last year.
Following its official reveal, the iX3 is slated to enter series production at the Debrecen facility later this year, with customer deliveries expected to start in 2026.
In addition to the iX3, BMW is advancing the development of a new electric sedan, anticipated to be named the i3, which is also in its final testing stages.
An iX3 prototype was showcased at the BMW’s annual conference on Friday.
At the conference here, BMW CEO Oliver Zipse said the automaker would double down on its technology-open approach, offering customers a wide range of drivetrain options — from traditional combustion engines and plug-in hybrids to fully electric vehicles and plans for a hydrogen-powered model by 2028.
“We make no distinctions – whether we are talking about combustion engines, plug-in hybrids, all-electric vehicles, or hydrogen. We consistently implement innovation and the latest technologies in all our vehicles.”
Zipse also noted that this diverse strategy is key to maintaining competitiveness in uncertain global economic conditions.
The company reported a 13% increase in its battery-electric vehicle sales in 2024, with fully electric models making up over 17% of total sales and nearly one in four vehicles sold being electrified when including plug-in hybrids.
BMW aims to sell its three-millionth electrified vehicle this year and expects to reach 1.5 million fully electric vehicle sales since the launch of its i3 and i8 models.
Supporting this strategy, BMW’s global production network is undergoing significant changes.
In addition to the new electric-only plant in Debrecen, the company is setting up five high-voltage battery assembly plants across Europe, the Americas, and China.
Furthermore, its main plant in Munich is slated to switch exclusively to electric vehicle production by 2027. These initiatives are part of BMW’s broader strategy to introduce over 40 new or updated models by 2027.
