BMW wants to speed up i4 production

According to some media in Germany, BMW is speeding up the production start of the all-electric i4 from the year’s end to August or September. In China, meanwhile, BMW has significantly reduced the price of its iX3 electric SUV.

The i4 is being built in Munich. Preparations for the production of this all-electric Gran Coupé (like BMW names it) started last summer. For six weeks, vehicle production was suspended during the Bavarian summer holidays to retool the existing production facilities.

In the future, the BMW 3 Series Sedan, the BMW 3 Series Touring, both with combustion engines and hybrid drive, the BMW M3, and the all-electric BMW i4 will be manufactured on the same line.

First deliveries in 2021

According to the German newspaper Handelsblatt, the start of production of the i4 is to be brought forward to August or September. Until now, it was said that the model would be built in Munich from the end of the year. The first deliveries would, therefore, still be realistic in 2021.

The electric motors and high-voltage batteries for the i4 will be supplied from the new e-drive production competence center at the Dingolfing plant. The battery cells assembled there will be supplied by companies such as CATL and Samsung SDI – and in the future also by Northvolt in Europe.

iX3 15% cheaper in China

In China, BMW has reduced its iX3 electric SUV price significantly: from 470 000 yuan to 399 900 yuan, or from €60 000 to  €51 000. This means a substantial price-cut of 15%. The higher equipment version price is also lowered: from 510 000 to 439 900 yuan (from approximately €65 200 to €56 300).

According to various media reports, the intention is to bring the car into closer competition with vehicles from Tesla and Chinese start-ups like Nio. Tesla has already lowered the local prices of its Model 3 and Model Y recently.

Environmental bonus

In Germany, the iX3 will cost between €66 300and €71 800. In Belgium, the starting price is established at €68 500. Of course, one has to take into account that in Germany, there is still the environmental bonus of €7 500, which you have to deduct from the price.

Normally, the first units of the iX3 are being delivered to their customers right now when we write this. In Belgium, his biggest competitors at first will be the obvious cars like the Audi e-tron and Mercedes EQC, but others are coming.