The Era of EVs Isn’t Forever: BMW Backs Away from Going Fully Electric

German automaker BMW remains committed to its “Power of Choice” strategy—developing electric vehicles alongside gasoline and diesel-powered cars. Unlike many rivals pledging full electrification by 2035, BMW has no plans to abandon internal combustion engines entirely.

Board member Jochen Goller put it bluntly: “ICE and combustion engines will never disappear. Never.”

That stance is reinforced by recent updates to several six-cylinder and V8 engines, now adapted to meet Euro 7 emissions standards. Klaus von Moltke, BMW’s head of global powertrain production, echoed the message: “The internal combustion engine is our foundation.” He added that diesel models remain relevant too: the next generations of the X5 (G65), X6 (G66), and X7 (G67) will include diesel versions.

The European Union aims to ban sales of new ICE vehicles by 2035, though the final decision isn’t set. BMW opposes the move, warning of potential mass job losses and insufficient EV charging infrastructure. CEO Oliver Zipse has previously argued that forced electrification is “a dead end.”

BMW expects EVs and combustion models to split sales evenly by 2030—a major shift from 2024, when electric cars accounted for just 17.4% of BMW Group’s total sales.

At the same time, BMW is rapidly expanding its electric lineup. By 2030, the automaker plans to introduce the i3 Touring, iX4, iX5, iX6, iX7, and more affordable i1 and i2 models. These will join the Neue Klasse family, which already includes the new iX3 and the upcoming i3 sedan.