Overview
- BMW says the refreshed i7 will be its first EV to use a Gen6 battery co‑developed with Rimac that debuts publicly in Beijing later this month.
- The new 4695 cylindrical cells deliver about 20% higher volumetric energy density than BMW’s prior prismatic Gen5 cells, according to the company.
- Rimac has outfitted its Zagreb campus to build the high‑voltage packs on a 15,000 m² line sized for about 300,000 modules a year, with finished systems shipped to BMW’s Dingolfing plant.
- Press reports describe a reworked BMW i3 on the Neue Klasse platform that turns the 3 Series into a full EV, launching as a dual‑motor 50 xDrive rated at 345 kW and 645 Nm.
- BMW targets i3 production in Munich from August 2026 with first deliveries in autumn, while the current i4 remains on sale with low advertised leases that require a large upfront payment.