BMW is launching a smaller, more affordable EV — SkimNews
Get the Energy newsletter
Daily energy & climate — solar, EVs, oil, the policy fights and tech bets shaping the transition. Free.
- BMW confirmed at Capital Markets Day it will launch an entry-level Neue Klasse EV in 2028, focused on Europe, using technologies introduced in the iX3 SUV and i3 sedan.
- The new model, internally codenamed "NBO" and expected to be called the i1, will be a five-door hatchback on the Neue Klasse platform, sold alongside the gas-powered 1 Series (per BMWBlog insiders).
- BMW's i1 will sit between the MINI Cooper Electric and the iX1 or iX2 in its European lineup, with cheaper trims expected to be RWD and higher-priced xDrive trims offering AWD.
- BMW joins Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and several other luxury brands that plan to, or have already, launched a lower-cost electric vehicle.
- The i1 is designed primarily for Europe; BMW is more likely to bring a related i2 electric sedan to America around 2030, though the i2 has not been publicly announced.
- BMW opened orders for the 2027 i3 sedan this week, starting at $61,500, the same price as the new iX3 SUV.
Why it matters: BMW's 2028 entry-level EV targets Europe's high-volume compact segment using Neue Klasse platform tech shared with the $61,500 i3 sedan and iX3 SUV, while the i1 itself is likely Europe-only — meaning U.S. buyers may not get a more affordable BMW EV until the i2 sedan arrives around 2030.
Ask SkimNews
