Particle.news
Download on the App Store

BMW Starts Pre-Series Production of Neue Klasse i3 Sedan in Munich

Camouflaged test builds are being used to prove new production lines and train staff ahead of a planned second-half-2026 series launch.

Overview

  • BMW says this is the first time the i3 has been built entirely at Plant Munich, now equipped with modernized press, body, paint, assembly and logistics operations.
  • The pre-series phase puts full factory processes under real-world scrutiny, from parts flow to equipment checks, with employee training moving from augmented reality to hands-on work.
  • Series production is targeted for the second half of 2026, with initial market deliveries expected around late 2026 to early 2027.
  • The sedan rides on BMW’s 800-volt Neue Klasse architecture related to the iX3, but official battery, range and charging specifications have not been released; media estimates extrapolate long ranges and very fast charging from the SUV.
  • Rollout is expected to begin in Europe, and outlets report a U.S. launch is planned, with M/Performance versions and a quad-motor M variant slated to follow later in the lineup.