BMW starts production of i3: Munich plant switches to electric
BMW has officially begun series production of the fully electric i3 sedan at its plant in Germany. This is a far more important event than it might seem at first glance, as the newcomer is already considered a worthy rival to the Tesla Model 3. However, the truly global story revolves around the plant itself. Starting next year, BMW’s Munich plant will produce exclusively electric vehicles, effectively bringing to an end the decades-long history of building cars with internal combustion engines at the site where BMW has been assembling its vehicles since the 1950s.
Modernization and lower production costs
To achieve this goal, the company had to completely rebuild its production facilities. A new body shop was installed at the plant, specially created to support production of the i3 and upcoming Neue Klasse models. Assembly and logistics areas were also modernized, and a new hall was built for handing over finished vehicles. BMW emphasizes that these investments, together with the introduction of the latest production technologies and closer cooperation between divisions and suppliers, have made it possible to reduce production costs at the plant by 10 percent.
Demand exceeded expectations
Order books for the new i3 opened in mid-June, and the company reports that interest in the model was so strong that the pace of production ramp-up had to be significantly accelerated. BMW management does not disclose how many cars come off the assembly line each day, but notes that demand for the i3 has even surpassed that of the new iX3, which collected more than 50,000 orders in its first months.
Powerful and efficient
“The start of production of the BMW i3 marks a new era for our main plant,” said BMW board member Raymond Wittmann. “With the fully electric BMW i3, we combine everything that belongs together: the 3 Series embodies BMW more than almost any other model, and the Munich plant represents our brand better than any other production site.”
In the initial phase, the i3 is offered in the 50 xDrive trim. This version is equipped with a battery with a capacity of 108.7 kWh and two electric motors with a combined output of 463 hp and 645 Nm of torque. This powertrain allows the sedan to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds. Even more impressive are the range and charging speed: under the optimistic WLTP cycle, the car can cover up to 906 kilometers on a single charge. Thanks to the 800-volt architecture and support for DC fast charging at up to 400 kW, it is possible to add 423 kilometers of range in ten minutes.
A new era for the Munich plant
The i3 is only the beginning of a major transformation. After it, other members of the Neue Klasse family will appear on the Munich assembly line. The plant’s complete transition to electric vehicle production is part of BMW’s ambitious strategy, which envisages the electrification of its model range in the coming years. Interest in the newcomer already shows that brand fans are ready for change. And given that BMW is also working on other i3 body styles, including a touring version recently spotted by spy photographers, the lineup can be expected to expand further. The new model’s market success will be an important indicator of how the electric future of one of Germany’s best-known automakers will be received.