2027 BMW i3 Hits The Assembly Line As Series Production Begins

Article Summary

• The new BMW i3 Sedan is built in Munich, where the historic plant will exclusively produce EVs from 2027.
• To meet demand, BMW brought forward the start of pre-sales, opening the order books in mid-June with a First Edition.
• The electric sedan is initially offered as the i3 50 xDrive, with additional versions to follow.

It’s only been a few months since BMW took the wraps off the new i3, and now it’s hitting the start button on production. The alphanumeric moniker initially used for the company’s first electric model in 2013 returns for what is essentially an electric 3 Series sedan. Technically, the i3 name was never truly retired. The hatchback’s demise in 2022 was followed that same year by an i3 sedan for China, essentially an electric long-wheelbase 3 Series.

But that was then, and this is now. The new i3 isn’t an adaptation of the combustion-engine model but a bespoke EV. It rides on the same dedicated Neue Klasse platform as the iX3, which BMW builds at its Debrecen plant in Hungary. The sedan is manufactured at home in Munich, where series production began earlier today.

All the cars you’re seeing are i3 50 xDrive models since that’s the only version available at launch. Cheaper and more expensive flavors are on the way. We believe the i3 40 and i3 M60 are expected to join the lineup shortly thereafter. Of course, the range will be topped in 2027 by a full-fat M3 (ZA0) carrying the same iconic name as the gas-fueled sports sedan.

Early Success For The New BMW i3 Sedan

As you probably remember, BMW brought forward the start of pre-sales to meet strong demand. The order books opened across Europe in mid-June, when the luxury automaker launched a First Edition. It’s a well-equipped specification with plenty of standard kit and a €75,340 price tag in Germany. If you’d rather configure the i3 yourself, the order books for the standard €65,900 model open at the end of September.

BMW builds the standard-wheelbase model in Munich, as the stretched version manufactured in China sadly won’t make it to Europe or North America for that matter. The regular i3 will begin reaching early adopters in Europe this fall, with the First Edition taking precedence. The first shipments to the United States won’t happen until later in 2027.

The historic Munich plant won’t be the only factory in the BMW Group network to build the standard-wheelbase i3. Codenamed NA0, the electric sedan will also be assembled in Mexico at the San Luis Potosí plant from 2027, alongside the iX3. BMW’s oldest plant won’t build combustion-engine cars for much longer, as the site is switching entirely to EVs next year.

Up next

• BMW i3 First Edition Makes Public At Goodwood Festival Of Speed
  As the iX3 closes in on 100,000 orders, its sedan counterpart is also off to a strong start. BMW has yet to share any figures, but...

• The New BMW i3 Is Longer And Wider Than The Outgoing 3 Series
  If you’ve been hoping car bloat would somehow suddenly come to an end, we’ve got bad news for you. The new i3 is larger in every d...

A More Practical i3 Is Coming Soon

Another Neue Klasse model confirmed for Munich is the i3 Touring (NA1). It was spotted undergoing testing earlier this week ahead of a highly likely launch next year. Like the sedan, it will get a diversified lineup, and we wouldn’t rule out a purely electric M3 Touring. It even has a codename, ZA1, or so we’ve heard.

If you’re wondering what’s happening to the conventionally powered 3 Series, BMW is moving production to Dingolfing. Only the G50 sedan has been confirmed so far, but we believe a long-roof G51 is also planned. The new 3er premieres before the end of the year, complete with a six-cylinder M Performance model. Another gas-fed M3 (G84) will follow sometime in 2028.

See more of our coverage in your search results.

Add BMWBLOG on Google ↗