After eight and a half years and 250,000 units produced, the production of the BMW i3/i3s has ended.
The BMW i3 was created in the BMW Group facility in Leipzig, Germany, and distributed to more than 74 nations.
It was a ground-breaking vehicle for the business as it was one of the first standalone all-electric models to hit the market and the first series battery-electric model from BMW.
A passenger cell built of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) and an aluminum chassis made the BMW i3 a distinctive vehicle.
The business also marketed a REx (range-extender version) of the i3/i3s, which has a small gasoline engine for emergency use, in addition to the 100% electric i3/i3s (sporty version). The car’s battery capacity increased over time, from 21.6 kWh in the first iteration to 33.2 kWh (27.2 kWh useable) and 42.2 kWh for up to 307 km (191 miles) of WLTP range.
According to BMW, it is also the most popular electric vehicle in the world in the premium compact sector with 250,000 units sold worldwide.
BMW i3 production ceased at the end of June 2022. The last 10 are unique BMW i3s HomeRun Edition models. The completion of the automobiles in the assembly hall was open to customers.
HomeRun Edition trim for the BMW i3:
- Frozen Dark Grey or Frozen Dark Red II are two new BMW Individual paint colors.
- Double-spoke light alloy wheels measuring 20 inches in diameter
- a glass roof that is electrically powered
- solar-controlling glass
- LED headlights that can adjust
- Vernasca Dark Truffle leather upholstery, a leather instrument panel, a leather steering wheel with galvanized detailing, a Carum Grey roof lining, ambient lighting, and the welcome light are all examples of the high-quality interior design of the suite.
- The Comfort package, Driving Assistant Plus, Professional navigation, wireless charging for phones, a Harman Kardon hi-fi sound system, and online entertainment with music flat rate are all included.
Some BMW i3/i3s electric vehicle components, such as battery modules or drive units, were also utilised in other EVs. The MINI Cooper SE specifically uses e-drive components (although in the front-wheel-drive configuration). Additionally, battery modules can be found in Torqeedo electric motorboats, Turkish Karsan electric buses, and Streetscooter vehicles used by the German postal service.
Due to the planned release of the next-generation fully electric MINI Countryman, the BMW Group Plant Leipzig will become the first BMW Group facility to produce both BMW and MINI vehicles.
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Discontinuation[edit]
BMW expected to keep making the i3 until 2024 as of December 2019[update], and there were no concrete plans for an i3 replacement. BMW, however, declared in June 2021 that it would stop selling the i3 in the US after the 2021 model year and replace it in that market with the BMW iX and BMW i4 in 2022. Australian models were no longer made by the end of 2021; manufacturing on US models ended in July 2021.
Early in 2022, BMW said that it planned for manufacture of all i3 models to finish in July of that year. BMW iX1, which will begin mass production at the Regensburg factory in 2024 before moving to Hungary, will take over in some countries. To produce the redesigned Mini Countryman, the Leipzig facility will receive new equipment.
Images of the BMW i3 eDrive35L
This report claims that when the new i3 hits the market later this decade, the United States and/or Canada will receive a long-roof version of the vehicle, which is probably much more intriguing. The 3 Series EV will be produced in Mexico in two models, with internal designations NA0 for the i3 sedan and NA1 for the i3 wagon. However, at this very early stage, nothing can be confirmed.
These two vehicles are not the only next-generation EVs from BMW that will be made in Mexico. The new X3’s electric variant, which we spotted earlier this month, will also be produced at the Plant San Luis Potosi factory, according to Bimmerpost. The Bavarian business is anticipated to adopt a similar approach to Mercedes-Benz for the crossover, providing electric and combustion-powered vehicles for the same class. Spartanburg is anticipated to produce the standard X3. The next-generation iX3 is expected to start rolling off the assembly lines in Mexico in 2027, much like the new i3.
Last but not least, BMW debuted the i3 electric sedan earlier this year, although the company has no plans to market it outside of China. The electric motor in this car has a peak output of 281 horsepower (210 kilowatts) and 295 pound-feet (400 Newton-meters) of immediate torque. It is powered by a 66.1 kWh battery pack.
At the BMW Brilliance plant in Lydia, Shenyang, the Bavarians put the automobile together while adapting some of the parts to the needs of the local supply chain. There are currently no plans to produce an electric 3 Series, so we will have to wait till the all-new i3 makes its debut later this decade.
Supposedly, manufacture of the BMW i3 will finish in 2022.
The BMW i3’s eight-year run of success, during which time more than 200,000 units were sold, has come to an end. The U.S. production will stop in July 2021, and the final units will be rolled out of the worldwide production in 2022, as we learnt last week. The Leipzig Plant, BMW’s first facility to make electric cars, is solely responsible for producing the BMW i3. Since its debut in 2013, the carbon fiber electric car has often benefited from technological advancements in the form of new, more potent batteries. However, the most recent improvement was made in 2018, when a 42.2 kWh battery with a 120 Ah battery delivered an electric range of more than 150 miles.
There is now little motivation for BMW to sell or promote the significantly discounted and incentivized i3 because the company is heavily focused on the launch of the BMW i4 and iX next-generation electric vehicles. After a rough debut in 2013, BMW’s first electric vehicle in the production series gained popularity and improved the Bavarian automaker’s sales. The i3 hatchback is a well-liked option in Europe, especially in the Nordic nations, because to its distinctive aesthetics and entertaining driving qualities.
The MINI Cooper SE will still use the technology and drivetrain from the BMW i3. The compact electric car from MINI mostly makes use of the same technological elements as the i3, but it combines them with a typical mass-produced body sans carbon fiber lightweight construction. Additionally, the rear wheels of the i3 always maintained a similar resemblance to the normal BMW configuration, in contrast to the front wheels of the electric MINI.
By allowing designers and engineers a great deal of latitude in terms of design and packaging, the BMW i3 ultimately demonstrated why a specialized EV platform is the best course of action. The BMW I business propelled the Munich-based automaker into an early electric future despite the significant investment it required—in the billions of euros. Additionally, it provided them with a wealth of production knowledge that they eventually used to several BMW models.
Ulrich Kranz, the project manager and person in charge of the first BMW i3, will now also contribute his ideas elsewhere: He was just officially named the new project leader for Apple’s iCar. Inquiries on the i3 production were made to BMW.
Return of the BMW i3, but only in China as an electric 3-Series
- The i3 eDrive35L, a new electric 3-series from BMW, is being made specifically for the Chinese market.
- The i3 boasts a 66.1 kWh battery that offers 327 miles of range on China’s test cycle, along with 282 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque.
- The i3 eDrive35L will go on sale in China in May 2022 and features a wheelbase that is 4.3 inches longer than the conventional 3-series.
The BMW i3, however, is not what we previously thought it to be. The new BMW i3 is an electric version of the venerable 3-series sedan, not a tiny hatchback with concept-car appearance and a carbon fiber reinforced plastic body. BMW’s most recent EV, the i3 eDrive35L, is only being produced for the Chinese market, therefore it won’t be sold in the United States.
The i3 shares a powertrain with BMW’s most recent electric models, including the i4, iX, and the iX3 (which is also unavailable in the US). BMW did not release information regarding the i3’s electric propulsion system, but given that the i4 eDrive40 is rear-wheel drive and BMW promises “sporty driving dynamics,” we would anticipate the i3 to have a single motor on the rear axle, which the provided cutaway image appears to support. According to BMW, the i3 has 295 pound-feet of torque and 282 horsepower. The i3 can reportedly accelerate to 62 mph in 6.2 seconds thanks to this. According to BMW, the i3 can go 327 miles on a 66.1-kWh battery and can be fully charged from 0 to 80 percent in 35 minutes.
You may have noticed the L added to the end of the name; this indicates a wheelbase that is longer, with 4.3 inches more space between the i3’s wheels than a typical 3-series sedan. Luxury sedans with long wheelbases are popular in China, where using a chauffeur is more frequent than it is in the United States. The i3 will go on sale in China in May of this year, and BMW Brilliance, a joint venture with Chinese automaker Brilliance Auto, will construct it in Shenyang. BMW may ultimately introduce an electric 3-series to the United States, but for the time being, the i4 is the only electric sedan available.
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Sadly, the BMW i3’s production has now come to an end.
Even if the inventive little BMW i3 has been on life support for some time, it is nevertheless difficult to accept BMW’s news that production has come to a stop.
Yes, the i3 has officially died eight and a half years after its debut. Just a few days ago, according to BMW, the 250,000th copy was produced in Leipzig, and the last ten vehicles received a special HomeRun edition specification.
The HomeRun variants come with 20-inch wheels, new Frozen Dark Grey or Frozen Red II paint finishes, and practically every i3 option imaginable. It sounds like certain component bins needed to be cleaned out. That entails a heated leather instrument panel, wireless charging, a rear-view camera, an electric glass roof, adaptive LED headlights, heated leather seats in “Vernasca Dark Truffle,” a Harman Kardon speaker system, and more.
Where are BMW i3s manufactured?
The electric vehicle from BMW is called the i3. From 2012 to 2022, it was made in the BMW facility in Leipzig. The rear-hinged rear doors, the distinctive design, the high body carbon content, and the comprehensive approach to material selection are the characteristics of an electric car that set it apart from other vehicles.
Who produces the BMW i3 battery?
A long-term battery cell supply agreement between the BMW Group and the Swedish business Northvolt has been reached. It’s a two billion euro agreement. The cells will be produced by Northvolt in its currently under construction Skelleftea Gigafactory beginning in 2024.