BMW i3 Production Ends in August; New Long-Wheelbase Model Launches in 2027

The current-generation BMW i3 will officially cease production in August 2024. Production of this model began on May 5, 2022, at BMW’s Lydia Plant in Shenyang, marking it as BMW’s first locally produced all-electric sedan in China. Priced at RMB 349,900, it features a wheelbase of 2,966 mm, an integrated floating curved display, the BMW iDrive system with Operating System 8.0, and a fifth-generation high-voltage battery pack (with a total capacity of approximately 70 kWh), delivering a CLTC-rated range of 526 kilometers. Meanwhile, the next-generation BMW i3—based on BMW’s Neue Klasse (New Class) dedicated EV platform—made its global debut in China in April 2024. Production of the overseas version is scheduled to commence in August 2024 at BMW’s Munich plant. The locally produced long-wheelbase variant will be manufactured by BMW Brilliance starting in Q4 2024 and is expected to launch officially in 2027. This China-specific long-wheelbase version extends the wheelbase by 108 mm compared to the global model, reaching approximately 3 meters. It adopts an 800V high-voltage architecture, enabling a 10-minute charge to deliver up to 400 km of CLTC range and achieving a total CLTC range exceeding 1,000 km. Additionally, it features semi-recessed door handles compliant with Chinese national standards.