BMW prepares new electric i3, signaling the eventual phase-out of the current i4 sedan model.
Management at BMW continues to reshape the brand’s product lineup—and a major shift is coming. The key trigger for these changes will be the next-generation fully electric BMW i3, which is expected to hit the market toward the end of this year.
Against that backdrop, the future of the current BMW i4 looks all but decided. The model is now being prepared for a gradual exit from global markets.
During a presentation of the upcoming i3 in Germany, BMW’s head of product, Bernd Koerber, was unusually direct. He stated that the i4 “won’t be around much longer,” adding that the new i3 is already being positioned as its replacement.
At the same time, he didn’t completely rule out a comeback. As BMW continues expanding its EV lineup, the company could theoretically revisit the idea of a true i4 successor. For now, though, the i3 effectively takes over its place in the brand’s electric hierarchy.
Rumors about the i4’s short future have been circulating for a while. The sedan received a routine refresh in 2024, and earlier projections pointed to production ending around the close of the 2026 model year.
Meanwhile, BMW is also preparing the next generation of its 4 Series, which is expected to ride on the brand’s “Neue Klasse” platform—the same architecture underpinning the new i3. As a result, the i3 is likely to arrive as a 2027 model, just as the current i4 approaches the end of its lifecycle.