BMW is reportedly considering equipping some electric models with range extenders, primarily for the Chinese market. The larger model series are the main candidates, as they are more likely to have the space for an additional powertrain.
News agency Bloomberg broke the news on BMW’s plans, citing sources familiar with the company’s strategy. Apparently, the automaker is considering developing range-extender versions of its top-end models, as these are “large enough to incorporate a small engine.”
The report specifically mentions the X5 SUV and the 7 Series sedan. So, in a completely different segment to BMW’s first range extender, which was offered in the i3, BMW’s first electric car, launched in 2013, which was also offered with a range-extender version called i3 REX.
Always electrically driven
A range-extender vehicle is an electrically driven car with a battery that can be charged via a cable or by an onboard small internal combustion engine that powers a generator to supply electricity. It is legally categorized as a plug-in hybrid. Unlike a plug-in hybrid, the combustion engine never directly drives the wheels; propulsion is solely electric.
Currently, the battery-electric range typically spans 200 to 400 kilometers, which is lower than that of recent, comparable battery-electric vehicles. In range-extender models, the battery is often slightly smaller to accommodate the additional components. However, the combined range often exceeds 1,000 kilometers, making them highly attractive on paper, particularly in rural China and in the US, where longer distances are common.
German interest
While BMW has neither confirmed nor denied the plans outright, the company stated that it is “continuously analyzing usage patterns, customer needs, and market developments and reviewing the market potential of various technologies.”
This could be interpreted as an indirect acknowledgement, particularly given the success of Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs) in China, where they are also called REEVs, for Range Extending Electric Vehicles. It seems that at least exploratory tests and studies are underway at BMW. However, this does not guarantee that such a drivetrain will ultimately feature in BMW’s production models.
BMW is also one of the few manufacturers that believe in using hydrogen to extend the range of an electric vehicle. The combustion engine is then replaced by a fuel cell, with the advantage that this FCEV stays a zero-emission vehicle.
If BMW proceeds to develop range-extender models, the Munich-based automaker could become the first major German manufacturer to offer this technology. The Volkswagen Group is also exploring such drivetrains for the Chinese market, but it has not yet launched a production model in China.
A platform for a large range-extender model is under development in North America under the Volkswagen US brand Scout, with recent speculation suggesting Audi may adopt it.
China is the key factor
In China, BMW, like other German automakers, faces declining sales, while domestic manufacturers such as BYD continue to gain market share. Chinese brands like the EREV specialist Li Auto have achieved significant success with range-extender models.
Avatr and IM Motors also offer this drivetrain. The trend has even prompted Xpeng, previously focused exclusively on battery-electric vehicles, to expand its lineup with a range-extender model. BMW’s potential EREV markets, such as China and the US, primarily feature larger vehicles with longer wheelbases, which are better suited to this technology than the more compact models prevalent in Europe.
Is the EREV boom in China cooling down?
However, the EREV boom in China appears to have peaked and cooled significantly recently. Range-extender vehicles are not listed separately in sales figures but are also categorized under plug-in hybrids. In October 2024, plug-in hybrids remained the fastest-growing segment, with 587,000 sales and 89% growth, while battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) grew by ‘only’ 30%.
By October 2025, plug-in hybrid growth had slowed to 605,000 units, while BEV sales surged from 842,000 to over 1.1 million. Even Li Auto, a pioneer in EREVs, is struggling to set new records: in October, the company, now also offering battery-electric vehicles, sold just 31,767 units, a 38% decline from the previous year. This marks the fourth consecutive month that Li Auto’s sales have fallen below 2023 levels.
There’s a possibility that the popularity of EREVs will shift significantly to the US, where customers are far more hesitant toward BEVs than in China and would embrace the idea of having a combustion engine on board, even if it won’t drive the wheels and is just providing electricity for the electromotor(s).
