The BMW i1 should’ve been the brand’s cheapest EV, but it now must make way for more expensive models, like the iX1 crossover and i7 luxury sedan.
Shifting focus towards the iX, iNEXT, and other electric models, BMW postpones its i1 electric hatchback plans. Initially planned to be an entry-level EV, rumors about the i1 started gaining traction in 2019. But the latest reckoning indicates that the electric hatchback may not be profitable in bigger markets like China and America. Hence it is too much effort for too low returns. Instead, the BMW team focuses on a bigger version like the grand coupe or a sleek crossover with the i2 model, which is currently in the prototyping stage.
BMW’s EV program started in 2013 with the i3. However, it has lagged behind due to a shift in focus to PHEVs, like the 2014 i8 sports car.
Nevertheless, things are about to change. Next in line for BMW are the i4, the iX crossover, and the iNEXT in 2022. The iX should have the footprint of a BMW X5, the roof height of an X6, and the wheelbase of an X7. Meanwhile, the i4 will be a compact sports sedan similar to the 3 Series.
Upcoming BMW EVs will also sport a revamped iDrive system. With data collection from 14 million BMW cars on roads worldwide, the BMW team had embarked on a mission to reimagine the iDrive system to provide a whole new range of contemporary and futuristic possibilities. BMW coins with the term ‘intelligent future of sensing’ for its next iDrive system.
As a result, the electrified ‘i’ and ‘iX’ series will offer a natural and emotional interaction with the vehicle along with a curated driving experience. With numerous proprietary ‘shy-tech’ features that don’t immediately meet the naked eye, BMW had revamped the interior space dramatically, as visible in the iX and iNEXT models.
The iX1 should launch in 2022, probably along the i7, the BMW 7 Series’s electric version. The current i3 will reach the end of its life by 2024, so no changes are expected till then. However, a China-specific electric version of the i3 with a long wheelbase should arrive in 2022.
Furthermore, BMW secured the nameplate for i1 to i9 and iX1 to iX9 years ago. Thus, the Bavarian brand should launch up to 25 electrified cars in the next three years. While the iX1 looks promising, there are still many gaps in BMW’s EV lineup, ranging from hatchbacks to sedans to coupes to SUVs and SAVs.
