BMW Opens i3 Reservations Early Due to High Demand

After the launch of the first model in the Neue Klasse family exceeded BMW’s expectations, the Bavarian automaker has now opened the reservation system for the i3 months ahead of schedule due to the high level of interest generated by the electric sedan’s unveiling last March.

This was revealed in an exclusive report by the German website Automobilwoche, which states that the premium automaker will begin accepting orders for the “1st Edition” version in the coming hours in Germany—months ahead of its original launch scheduled for the fall.

According to the report, the production schedule for the zero-emission alternative to the 3 Series will not be affected by the change, and the program will proceed as planned, with production set to begin next August in Munich.

The i3 will initially be available in a single version, the i3 50 xDrive, which will have a range of approximately 708 kilometers (440 miles)—a few kilometers more than the iX3’s maximum range, according to preliminary tests conducted in accordance with EPA procedures.

This is an impressive figure, thanks to the state-of-the-art 800-volt powertrain and the cylindrical battery cells developed by BMW.

The i3 delivers a total output of 469 caballos de fuerza and 650 Nm (476 lb-pie) of torque from its two electric motors, while the battery will offer a capacity of approximately 107 kilowatt-hours (kWh), with the ability to charge at a maximum power of 400 kilowatts, allowing it to go from 10% to 80% in 22 minutes.

Reports from the specialized press indicate that production of the i3 would begin at the San Luis Potosí plant in 2028, nearly a year after the iX3 electric SUV begins rolling off the assembly line at the complex located in the Bajío region.