BMW i3 Orders Open Early Due to High Demand, August Production Confirmed

BMW i3 Orders Open Early Amidst High Demand

BMW is set to open order books for its highly anticipated i3 electric sedan significantly ahead of its original schedule, a move prompted by overwhelming customer interest. The German automaker will begin accepting orders for a special '1st Edition' of the i3 this week in Germany. This accelerated timeline comes as a positive development for BMW, following the strong reception of its iX3 electric SUV.

Production and Specifications

Despite the early order opening, the production schedule for the electric 3 Series remains unaffected, with manufacturing scheduled to commence in August. The initial offering will be the i3 50 xDrive, which boasts an impressive estimated range of approximately 440 miles, based on preliminary EPA procedure testing. This extended range is attributed to BMW's next-generation 800-volt powertrain and the utilization of cylindrical battery cells.

The i3 is engineered to deliver robust performance, featuring 469 horsepower and 476 pound-feet of torque. Its high-voltage pack is estimated to hold around 107 kWh of energy. A key highlight of the charging capability is its support for charging speeds up to 400 kilowatts, enabling a 10-to-80% charge in as little as 22 minutes. Furthermore, the vehicle-to-load (V2L) function will be a standard feature, allowing owners to export up to 3.7 kW of power from the high-voltage pack for external use.

Market Rollout

European production of the electric 3 Series will kick off in August at BMW's Munich, Germany facility. For the U.S. market, sales are slated to begin in 2027. While the i3 will come equipped with a Tesla-style NACS port in the U.S., a CCS adapter will be included as standard.

The decision to open orders early reflects a strong market anticipation for BMW's latest electric offering, building on the success seen with models like the iX3 electric SUV. The i3 represents a significant step in BMW's electrification strategy, promising substantial range and advanced charging technology.