BMW iX1 production halted due to shortage of standard wheels
BMW has been forced to suspend production of its popular electric crossover due to a parts shortage. The German plant has enough 17- and 18-inch wheels for May, but lacks them for the entire June. Customers are being informed that delivery may be delayed until October, or they are being offered to switch to 19-inch wheels.
Buyers of new cars may wait longer for their vehicle if they ordered some special personalization option, such as a color from Porsche. But some drivers waiting for standard BMW electric crossovers this summer may have to wait until autumn simply because they wanted standard equipment.
This is precisely the situation for some BMW iX1 customers in Europe. Production issues related to standard 17- and 18-inch wheels are forcing assembly to halt and delaying deliveries for months.
Production letter to dealers
“There are still enough wheels for production in May, but in June there will not be enough capacity,” wrote a BMW production manager in a letter to dealers, seen by Automobilwoche.
Although the cause of the problem was not disclosed, and the manager noted that BMW is in contact with the supplier, he acknowledged: “it will likely take some time before this bottleneck is resolved.”
This is not about a limited series of supercars that require carbon fiber wheels with center locks. It is about smaller, cheaper wheels that many customers choose precisely because they are more affordable and provide better ride comfort. But most importantly for an electric vehicle, they offer the best range.
BMW’s proposal and range loss
BMW is offering a solution — moving customers to 19-inch wheels. However, larger wheels require switching to more expensive trims, adding approximately €1,900 ($2,100) to the bill. Additionally, customers may lose some range.
The standard iX1 on 17-inch wheels has a range of 320 miles (515 km), but switching to 19-inch reduces it to 316 miles (509 km), and to 20-inch — to 305 miles (491 km). Strangely, the standard 18-inch wheels, which are also in short supply, provide 313 miles (504 km). Therefore, only those who chose the free 17-inch wheels will lose range when switching to 19-inch ones.
For customers waiting for the end of a lease or a car trade-in, delays can become a real problem. One dealer reported postponing an iX1 delivery by approximately three months, leaving the customer to arrange transportation on their own.
This would not be so bad if it were about a niche product, but the iX1, which will soon receive a facelift, is a very important model on the continent where electric vehicle sales are still growing.
“The iX1 has become our bread and butter,” one dealer told the German publication.
Summary
This situation shows how vulnerable even large automakers can be due to seemingly minor components. A shortage of standard wheels, which are typical for budget versions, leads to serious delays for a mass-market model. It also highlights that in the era of electric vehicles, even simple things like wheel size have a significant impact on range, and customers often choose smaller wheels precisely for this reason. BMW will have to quickly resolve the supply issue to avoid losing the trust of customers who have already placed orders.