BMW retires industry icon - and ends a whole era
Created: 02/17/2022Updated: 02/17/2022 09:03
By: Markus Hofstetter
BMW will cease production of its former technology flagship in June.
© Sven Hoppe/dpa
Around ten years ago, BMW proclaimed the “revolution in car construction” with what was then its latest model.
The group is now retiring its technology carrier.
Munich/Leipzig – As early as July 2021, there were reports that BMW could stop producing its legendary i3 model in the summer of 2022.
This was actually only planned for 2024. Now there is an official confirmation.
A spokeswoman for the Bavarian carmaker announced that the end of the i3 will be sealed in June 2022.
The successors are ready.
With the electric Mini and the BMW iX1, the group has new offers with great potential in this segment, the spokeswoman continued.
Automobilwoche
had previously
reported on it.
The BMW i3 had its greatest success as a rental car from DriveNow © Christian-Ditsch.de/imago
The i3 is one of BMW's first series-produced e-cars.
The small electric car, of which around 250,000 have been sold, has been in production at the Leipzig plant since September 2013.
BMW already retired the i8 in the summer of 2020.
BMW i3: Ahead of its time
The i3 had a difficult start, with demand being very restrained in the early years.
It was considered a shop keeper who was far ahead of his time.
In addition to the electric drive, the car has a light carbon passenger cell, and the interior consists partly of renewable, compostable materials.
With the i3 in its own DriveNow car-sharing fleet, BMW tried to arouse customer interest, apparently with success.
Two weeks ago, the company reported: "The BMW i3, as the world's only all-electric premium vehicle in the compact segment, was able to grow even in its ninth year: With 28,216 vehicles sold, 5.4 percent more BMW i3s were sold than in the previous year."
BMW i3: Completely renewed product range replaces Stromer
But the compact car is also getting increasing competition from its own company, which is technologically ahead of the i3.
The electric Mini from Oxford is already on the market, the BMW iX1 from Regensburg will be coming at the end of the year.
BMW wants to soon build the successor to the Mini Countryman in Leipzig, also in a fully electric version.
In the current year, the "i4" and the "iX" will also be rolling into the showrooms.
They should meet with significantly better demand.