- BMW’s first Neue Klasse EV will be a compact crossover in the X3 family, badged as the iX3
- Production starts in late 2025 at a plant in Hungary
- The iX3 will be followed in 2026 by an i3 electric sedan forming part of the next-generation 3-Series family
BMW used its annual general meeting held in Munich on Friday to confirm the first member of its upcoming Neue Klasse family of electric vehicles: the iX3.
A camouflaged prototype was displayed during the meeting, where CEO Oliver Zipse also confirmed that the covers will come off at the 2025 Munich auto show, scheduled for Sept. 9-14.
It was at the Munich auto show in 2023 where BMW rolled out the Vision Neue Klasse concept, which previews an electric 3-Series, almost certain to be badged as the i3, due out next year. The upcoming iX3 was also previewed with a concept, the Vision Neue Klasse X, in early 2024.
BMW previously sold an iX3 based on the previous-generation X3, though that electric crossover was built in China and never offered in the U.S. Similarly, the automaker also offers an electric version of the current 3-Series, badged as an i3, exclusively in the Chinese market.
BMW Vision Neue Klasse X concept
The new iX3, which will form part of the current X3 compact crossover family, is already in pre-production at a newly constructed plant in Debrecen, Hungary. The first customer vehicles will start rolling off the line in late 2025, which suggests the vehicle may reach U.S. showrooms as a 2026 model, though a delay until the 2027 model year is also possible.
Neue Klasse EVs will ride on a next-generation EV platform that promises improved power and efficiency, plus faster charging thanks to an 800-volt electrical system. Neue Klasse EVs will also benefit from a next-generation battery with cylindrical cells (instead of the current prismatic cell design BMW uses), and together with other improvements, should result in a range improvement of 30% over BMW’s current EVs, the automaker has previously said.
The Neue Klasse EV platform also includes an overhaul of BMW’s electrical systems and chassis control technologies. For the electrical systems, zonal design, where fewer control units are used for more functions, has been implemented. According to BMW, this has enabled designers to use almost 2,000 feet of less wiring, helping to save weight while increasing energy efficiency. This extends to the drivetrain and chassis management system that consolidates multiple control units into a single, advanced unit BMW refers to as the Heart of Joy.
The Neue Klasse EVs will also usher in a new interface that replaces the traditional gauge cluster with a head-up display spanning the base of the windshield. Additionally, a central touchscreen will handle infotainment and various vehicle functions. This interface will also be spread to BMW’s gas and plug-in hybrid lineup.
