The upcoming BMW i3 officially exists! The Munich-based manufacturer has confirmed that the first near-series (pre-production) vehicles have rolled off the production line at the BMW Group Plant in Munich.
While there wasn’t a lot to see (the vehicle is still “camouflaged” in the available photos), it is pretty exciting to know that one of BMW’s future flagships is edging closer to an official release. Despite the camouflage paint blurring the lines somewhat, it’s easy to make out the shape of a small sedan. As suspected, the new i3 is essentially an electric 3-Series.
Peter Weber, Head of BMW Group Plant Munich, says: “Production of pre-series vehicles is an important milestone for our plant. For the first time, we have built a BMW i3 entirely at our plant – using state-of-the-art manufacturing technology and digitally connected processes. With production now close to series maturity, our logistics and production processes are performing under real-world conditions across all technologies. 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.”
The upcoming EV is part of BMW’s “Neue Klasse” of vehicles, announced a few years ago. Elements of the prototype sedans that were unveiled since are also apparent on the vehicle, though they have yet to bring back the corduroy seats. Unfortunately. The first production “Neue Klasse” vehicle, the iX3 Sedan, is expected to be on US roads this summer. Though getting your hands on one could be difficult.
Wait, isn’t the i3 already a thing?
It is, or rather it was. The old BMW i3, which the Bavarian automaker manufactured between 2013 and 2022, was the first EV the company mass-produced. It was extremely compact, and like many EVs of the time had its issues. However, one of its bigger problems of the time was overcome with the addition of a “range extender” which was essentially a gas generator. This created a kind of reverse-hybrid and added a good number of extra miles to the electric Blimmer’s limited range.
The old i3 also won several major awards and has developed a strong cult following since. Arguably, it’s one of the few EVs that has truly embedded itself in “modern classic” territory. It was also pioneering in many ways — there’s a fair argument to be made that BMW would not be capable of producing the leading EVs it does at the moment without both the successes and the failures of the old i3.
With that being said, the “Neue Klasse” is essentially a total refresh for BMW, and there may not be much of the old i3 in the new one. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; the iX3 (which is the company’s upcoming electric SUV) is one of the most hotly anticipated vehicles of 2026. If its sedan equivalent continues in the same vein, then we could be entering an era where BMW dominates the mid to high-end SUV market.
