Start of Pre-Series Production for the New BMW i3
After months of spy shots and rumors, the new generation, fully electric BMW i3 is officially moving out of the theoretical stage. The manufacturer has begun pre-series production at its plant in Munich, which means: the future 3 Series electric car is no longer just a prototype trying to avoid photographers’ lenses at the Nürburgring.
BMW has published official shots of near-production-spec camouflaged cars to mark this milestone, confirming that vehicles meeting series specification are now moving through the plant. As BMW reports, these early cars are being assembled using full production processes—from the press shop to final assembly—to test logistics, equipment, and workflows ahead of the start of series production in the second half of 2026.
This is a more important step than it may seem. Until now, early i3s were partially assembled at a BMW pilot plant near its Research and Innovation Center. Now, with the new body shop, paint shop, and assembly facilities in Munich completed, the i3 is finally going through every stage of production under one roof, as a true production car should.
Differences Between the Electric and Conventional Models
The timing perfectly matches what we’ve seen on the road. Spy shots have shown the electric i3 and the next-generation internal combustion 3 Series testing side-by-side, sharing a similar Neue Klasse-inspired design but hiding very different underpinnings.
The i3 is built on BMW’s dedicated Neue Klasse electric platform, first introduced on the 2026 iX3 SUV, while the internal combustion 3 Series remains on an updated version of the current CLAR architecture.
How to Tell the Electric Car Apart
But you won’t need to put them on a lift to tell them apart; a close look will suffice. The electric i3 has a flatter roofline, different door and window shapes, and even a different charging port location compared to the fuel filler flap on the ICE model. Inside, however, both models will feature futuristic styling, including a freestanding display and BMW’s pillar-to-pillar iDrive Panoramic Screen.
Expected Powertrain Specifications
Powertrain from the iX3
Powertrain details remain unofficial, but based on what we already know about the iX3, expectations are very high. The i3 50 xDrive is reported to deliver around 463 hp (469 PS / 345 kW) and an EPA-rated range expected to exceed 400 miles (644 km), thanks to a powerful battery and ultra-fast DC charging.
It is expected to be followed by a base rear-wheel-drive version, and a more powerful and heavier electric M3 has been confirmed.
Final Preparations for Launch
BMW reports that employee training is now shifting from virtual reality to working with real equipment, telling us that the countdown to launch has begun. Camouflage may still be in place, but the electric i3 has clearly entered its final dress rehearsal, with the full, unmasked premiere set for later this year and first customer deliveries starting in early 2027.
The start of pre-series production in Munich is a key signal to the market and competitors, confirming the seriousness of BMW’s intentions for electrifying its most important model. This step also demonstrates how the company is integrating electric vehicle production into its core capacities, which could significantly impact efficiency and scaling in the future. The parallel existence of two distinct platforms for future 3 Series versions—electric and conventional—is becoming a vivid example of the industry’s transformation, where traditional technologies and innovations will coexist over the next decade.