The BMW 3 Series Goes Electric: New Details, Photos, and Premiere Timeline

The all-electric BMW i3 sedan, part of the new Neue Klasse family, is getting closer to launch. BMW has released official photos of the first pre-production vehicles built at its Munich plant. While the car is still covered in camouflage, the images already offer a clearer look at what the new electric i3 will be like.

According to BMW, the first pre-production units have already been assembled, signaling that vehicle development is essentially complete. The company is now focused on ironing out any remaining issues in the assembly process ahead of full-scale production. Over the next few months, BMW plans to fine-tune manufacturing to ensure a smooth and trouble-free market launch.

Because BMW has not yet disclosed full technical specifications for the i3, some details remain speculative. However, the recently unveiled electric iX3 crossover is expected to serve as a technical benchmark for the i3 sedan, making current assumptions about its powertrain fairly well grounded.

In the 50 xDrive configuration, the electric i3 is expected to feature a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system producing 463 horsepower, paired with a 112 kWh battery pack. Estimated driving range is around 400 miles, while peak charging power is said to reach up to 400 kW. At that rate, the battery could add as much as 230 miles of range in roughly 10 minutes.

Full-scale production of the electric BMW i3 sedan is scheduled for the second half of 2026, with its official debut expected to take place shortly before that.