- BMW’s first Neue Klasse EV will seemingly be a compact crossover badged an iX3
- Manufacturing is because of begin in late 2025 at plant in Hungary
- A compact sedan seemingly forming a part of the subsequent 3-Collection household will observe in 2026
BMW introduced on Wednesday that pre-production examples of its first Neue Klasse electrical autos at the moment are being assembled on the firm’s newly constructed plant in Debrecen, Hungary.
The development of pre-production autos is the beginning of the ultimate preparation part for the manufacturing of buyer vehicles, BMW stated. The shopper vehicles will begin rolling off the road on the Debrecen plant in late 2025, the automaker additionally confirmed. That timeline factors to the automobile reaching U.S. showrooms as a 2026 mannequin.
BMW plant in Debrecen, Hungary
Pre-production autos are usually used for crash checks, climate checks, and closing street validation. Their manufacturing additionally offers a possibility to iron out any snags on the manufacturing line earlier than the primary buyer examples are constructed.
The primary Neue Klasse EV will likely be a compact crossover that can seemingly be badged an iX3, that means it is going to type a part of the X3 household. BMW beforehand bought an iX3 based mostly on the previous-generation X3, although that electrical crossover was inbuilt China and by no means bought within the U.S.
BMW Imaginative and prescient Neue Klasse X idea
Prototypes for the primary Neue Klasse EV have been noticed and BMW additionally previewed the design with the Imaginative and prescient Neue Klasse X idea unveiled in March. Will probably be adopted in 2026 by a compact sedan that can seemingly be badged an i3. This new i3 will sit within the next-generation 3-Collection household, and prototypes are additionally out testing. The sedan’s design was previewed by final yr’s Imaginative and prescient Neue Klasse idea.
In contrast to BMW’s present EVs, the Neue Klasse EVs will characteristic distinct styling to differentiate them from their gasoline and hybrid counterparts, although the variations will not be substantial. There can also be some Neue Klasse EVs with out gasoline and hybrid counterparts, although BMW hasn’t confirmed any.
BMW Imaginative and prescient Neue Klasse idea
Neue Klasse EVs will journey on a next-generation EV platform that guarantees improved energy and effectivity, plus sooner charging because of an 800-volt electrical system. BMW’s personal drive and chassis management software program also needs to guarantee typical BMW dealing with traits.
Neue Klasse EVs may also profit from a next-generation battery with cylindrical cells (as an alternative of the present prismatic cell design BMW makes use of), and along with different enhancements ought to lead to a vary enchancment of 30% over BMW’s present EVs, the automaker has beforehand stated.
