It debuted in 2013 and was a real revolution in the market. The BMW i3 became the first electric from a Premium brand to reach the mass market, but much more expensive due to its carbon fiber monocoque structure. The German brand has already put an end to the production of the small zero emissions. It will say goodbye in 2023.
In eight years that BMW i3 accumulates in the market, exceeds 200,000 units manufactured very long. The zero-emission minivan was one of the first electric vehicles to reach the Premium segment, a car specially designed for city and interurban routes which, thanks to a series of improvements, has managed to exceed 300 kilometers of autonomy.
Record numbers for BMW even though its price isn’t cheap at all. And is that its conception is the one that increased the price. The carbon fiber structure of your monocoque it is true that it allows you to considerably reduce the weight, compensating for the extra battery and electric motor, while offering a practically indestructible structure. That has been one of the great burdens of the model, of which for now more than two years we know that he does not have a successor in sight.
Production of the BMW i3 in the United States may cease by the end of 2021
In fact, the Munich firm has tried to eliminate it from the range on more than one occasion, but sales have played against it. In addition, today, the manufacturer does not have an alternative in its categorySo getting rid of a model that can still generate positive numbers is a bit insane. What is known is that the days are numbered, and although production cessation was marked for 2024, the Bavarians are seriously considering pushing the deadline forward.
For now, no specific date has been set, and BMW has not come forward about it, but in specialized circles. sounds very strong late 2022 or early 2023. Even in the United States, where it is also available, it is aimed at the end of 2021, there are reports that point to official communications received by dealers that will distribute the last 180 units for this market, starting this July.
In any case, it will be almost a decade on sale for which it has been one of the brand’s best-selling electric models, despite its high price, short autonomy and the interior space so fair. We know that the trade name will be reused in the future for a larger model, but the current i3 will not have a relay in the same format that we know. The models that will fill your gap? The most similar will be the i2, although some bet that the SUV fever will end up putting the future iX1 in development, and that it will arrive in 2023, as the alternative.