With series production scheduled to kick off towards the end of 2026, the first pre-production BMW i3 has rolled off the assembly line.
Image: BMW
BMW Group has announced production of near-series i3 test vehicles has kicked off at its Munich assembly facility, with the first model rolling off the production line signifying the start of the final stage of development before series production commences in the third quarter of 2026.
All the pre-production examples manufactured at the Bavarian brand’s Plant Munich will now pass through each step of production. A team from the site first worked with the nearby pilot plant to produce these models at BMW Group’s Research and Innovation Centre. Recently, new manufacturing and logistics areas were completed at Plant Munich. Furthermore, the facility approves and inspects all production equipment, so it becomes integrated digitally within the existing systems.
Said Peter Weber, Head of BMW Group Plant Munich, “For the first time, we have built a BMW i3 entirely at our plant – using state-of-the-art manufacturing technology and digitally connected processes.” Weber added, “Over the coming months, we will apply the lessons learned from the ramp-up to further refine the processes for series production and ensure a smooth series launch.”
The i3 will be the second model designed with BMW’s Neue Klasse philosophy. This follows the iX3, which we sampled for a first drive at its international launch in Spain. The upcoming platform will support internal combustion (ICE), new energy (NEV) and battery electric (BEV) powertrains. In addition, an all-electric BMW M3 is also development. While the next-generation 3 Series is penned in to launch in 2027, and the i3’s bodywork remains under wraps, a render has suggested how it could look once it is officially unveiled.
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