To mark this stage, BMW has released the first official images of camouflaged cars that are as close to the production version as possible. The manufacturer notes that these cars are assembled using the full production cycle—from stamping body panels to final assembly. The task of the pre-series models is to test logistics, equipment, and work processes before the start of serial production scheduled for the second half of 2026.
This is an important step for the project. Early i3 models were partially assembled at a pilot site next to the BMW Research and Innovation Centre. Now, with the construction of new body welding, painting, and assembly workshops completed in Munich, the electric car goes through all production stages at a single plant—like future production models.
The electric i3 and the next generation of the 3 Series with internal combustion engines are simultaneously undergoing road tests and look similar due to the common Neue Klasse design language. However, technically these are different vehicles.
The electric i3 is built on the specialized Neue Klasse platform for electric vehicles, debuting in 2026 on the iX3 crossover. Meanwhile, the ICE version will retain the CLAR platform. The models can also be distinguished externally: the i3 has a more sloped roofline, a different shape of doors and windows, and a charging port located not where the fuel filler flap is on the ICE version. Inside, there will be almost no differences—both models feature a futuristic interior with a separate central display and a Panoramic iDrive screen stretching along the front panel.
Official specifications of the powerplants have not yet been disclosed, but the benchmarks are already clear. According to preliminary data, the all-wheel-drive BMW i3 50 xDrive can develop up to 469 hp (345 kW) and has a range of over 644 km according to the EPA cycle. A large traction battery and support for fast DC charging should contribute to this. Later, a more affordable rear-wheel-drive version will appear in the lineup, as well as a confirmed "charged" electric M3, which will become the most powerful and heaviest in the lineup.
BMW also notes that staff training is gradually shifting from virtual simulators to working with real equipment at the plant. This is yet another signal that the model launch is already close. Although camouflaged bodies are still present, the electric i3 has effectively entered the final phase of preparation: the first customer deliveries are scheduled for early 2027.
Source: BMW