BMW Neue Klasse iX3: start of a flood of 40 new models

BMW is preparing for an aggressive product rollout. As part of its annual earnings call, the carmaker unveiled plans for more than 40 new and updated models by 2027, starting with the highly anticipated Neue Klasse iX3.

The German automaker is betting on this next-generation EV technology to reverse a 4% drop in global sales last year and solidify its position in a global market where headwinds make up the weather.

At its 2025 Annual Conference, BMW Group CEO Oliver Zipse confirmed that the first Neue Klasse model, the iX3, will make its world debut at the IAA Mobility show in Munich this September. 

Heart of Joy

Following the reveal, production will begin later this year at BMW’s new plant in Debrecen, Hungary. Zipse described the Neue Klasse as “the biggest future-focused project in our company’s history,” signaling a transformative shift for BMW’s electrification strategy. It reminds me of Mercedes’s CLA release last week, promising a new dawn, though BMW is likely to stretch the strategy even further. 

The Neue Klasse lineup introduces a fresh digital and technological architecture, featuring what BMW calls the “Digital Nervous System” and “Heart of Joy” drivetrain management. The platform utilizes four high-performance computers, delivering more than 20 times the computing power of current models. The Heart of Joy integrates drivetrain and dynamic controls, boosting overall efficiency by up to 25%.

Up to 50% cost reduction

Key advances in battery technology are also known. The new sixth-generation eDrive system incorporates cylindrical battery cells with 20% higher energy density, an 800V architecture for 30% faster charging, and at least 30% more range than BMW’s existing EV lineup. The automaker is also targeting a whopping 40% to 50% reduction in battery pack costs, a crucial factor in making EVs more accessible and profitable.

The iX3 will be the first of six Neue Klasse models rolling out. Next in line is an all-electric 3 Series sedan, expected to compete with the Tesla Model 3 and the aforementioned Mercedes-Benz CLA in electric guise. While BMW has yet to confirm final specifications, the Neue Klasse EVs are projected to offer at least 600 kilometers of range under the WLTP cycle.

Meeting CO2 barriers

Though pressure in global markets is mounting, and sales are dwindling, BMW’s electric platoon holds up pretty well. Models from the i range accounted for 17% of total sales, a figure BMW expects to rise significantly with the launch of the Neue Klasse platform.

EVs make up over 20% of BMW’s total deliveries in Europe. At the same time, MINI and Rolls-Royce continue to see rapid electrification, with one in four MINIs and one in three Rolls-Royces now electric. This means the group can meet the stringent 2025 CO2 requirements by the EU as they were initially laid out. 

Walter Mertl, BMW’s chief financial officer, emphasized the scale of the company’s investment in future technologies, noting that 2024 marked the peak of BMW’s spending on next-generation platforms. “Never before in the history of BMW have we invested so extensively in our future,” he acknowledged.

Zipse echoed this sentiment, reaffirming BMW’s commitment to innovation and flexibility. “We do not differentiate between segments or drivetrain technologies—we provide every customer with the latest technology,” he said. This strategy seems to work when compared to rivals Mercedes and Audi. In fact, BMW managed to sell more EVs than both competitors combined: 368,475 units versus 185,059 for Stuttgart, and 164,000 for Ingolstadt.