Overview
- BMW unveiled the long‑wheelbase X5 and iX5 for the Chinese market on Monday, with sales scheduled to begin in early 2027 and production assigned to BMW Brilliance’s Shenyang plant.
- Both models stretch the wheelbase by 130 mm to 3,165 mm to increase rear‑seat legroom and now include chauffeur‑focused features such as an optional front passenger display, redesigned rear seats and an 8K fold‑down BMW Theatre Screen.
- The iX5 L uses BMW’s sixth‑generation eDrive and very large cylindrical‑cell battery packs reported at about 141–144 kWh usable, and BMW cites a China CLTC range of roughly 1,000 km which will be substantially higher than WLTP or EPA figures.
- BMW is deploying a China‑specific driver assistance stack built with local AI firm Momenta that uses locally trained, end‑to‑end models to offer navigation‑guided 'address‑to‑address' assistance for city and highway driving.
- Battery series production for the iX5 is set to begin at Plant Woodruff in December 2026 to support global iX5 deliveries early next year, and while some outlets report possible launches beyond China such as India, BMW describes the long‑wheelbase models as exclusive to China.