The Bavarians have two BMW 3 Series electric models in the pipeline. The China-only version (BMW i3 sedan) has already made its debut and will go on sale in May 2022, followed by an international version in 2025. The latter will be more advanced to lock horns with the established Tesla Model 3, which has now become the default sedan choice for early EV adopters across many markets worldwide.
NA5/NK1 to be the first BMW 3 Series electric
The internal name of the next-generation BMW 3 Series Electric is BMW NA5, according to a report from whichcar.com.au dated January 2022. The codename seems to conflict with BMW Blog’s report, which states that the codename is BMW NK1, according to its sources. The abbreviation NK1 could refer to the first Neue Klasse platform-based model. The global-spec BMW 3 Series Electric must be a highly desirable global car, whatever the codename may be.
The model pictured here and in the hero image of this article is the China-only i3 sedan which debuted in March 2022. It is based on a tweaked version of the existing Cluster Architecture (CLAR) and is closely related to the BMW i4. Image: BMW
To rival the Tesla Model 3
The international-spec BMW 3 Series Electric will be an eighth-generation model. And to keep up with the highly competitive nature of the segment, it will have to offer plenty of novelty. Its new platform, design language, powertrain, in-cabin technology, and other features will enable it to compete. It will sport an electric-first ‘Neue Klasse’ platform under development at BMW Group Forschungs- und Innovationszentrum (BMW FIZ) in Munich, Germany, serving as the foundation of the third phase of the company’s electrification.
Design & Build
To keep the weight of the 3 Series electric bodyshell low, BMW Group could rely on its multi-material formula. A combination of aluminum, steel, and carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic could be used when designing it.
The global BMW 3 Series Electric would look distinct from its internal combustion engine models due to its electric-first platform. It will likely be sleeker, more technologically advanced, and more practical than the BMW i4. Expect the global BMW 3 Series Electric to have a longer wheelbase and more raked A-pillars.
The global BMW 3 Series Electric’s cabin would be a significant departure from the i3 sedan’s interior (pictured). Image: BMW
The floor will be flat in the cabin, with no center tunnel obstructing any space. This could result in more room and a cleaner design. Buyers can also expect a ‘frunk,’ or storage space where the engine would typically be. The use of recycled and sustainably sourced eco-friendly materials should be significant, contributing to the company’s carbon-neutral goals.
BMW 3 Series Electric Specifications
It is reported that BMW plans to sell the global 3 Series Electric with two drivetrain layouts: single-motor RWD and dual-motor AWD system. It will use BMW eDrive technology, which will consist of a newly developed propulsion motor (including power electronics) and an 800-volt high-voltage battery pack. The NK1 could have a range of more than 435 miles, according to an Autocar report. The 350 kW charger could charge from 10% to 80% in 20 minutes.
Manufacturing & Release Date
We expect to see a concept version of the BMW 3 Series electric (‘Vision’ concept) next year, before the car is available in dealer showrooms in 2025, alongside the new iX3. It will make its foray into a highly competitive space—Xpeng launched its entry-level sedan P5 in 2021, Nio plans to launch the Nio ET5 in September of this year, Mercedes-Benz plans to sell the C-Class EV by 2025, Jaguar may release a mid-sized electric sedan, and Ingolstadt is also planning a future Audi E4 (electric A4). And did we mention the evolved Tesla Model 3?
The whichcar.com.au report stated that the next-generation 3 Series will be manufactured at a new facility in Debrecen, Hungary, which is on track to be inaugurated in 2025. This factory would also produce the configurations specified with the all-electric powertrain (global 3 Series electric).
Gasoline-powered BMW 3 Series is not retiring anytime soon
The global launch of the BMW 3 Series Electric will take place without any doubt, but the petrol 3 Series will not be consigned to the history books. At least not yet. As part of BMW’s commitment to providing customers with the Power of Choice, a conventional eighth-generation BMW 3 Series is in the works. After all, the 3 Series is the bread and butter for BMW.
Electric vehicles are unlikely to be democratized by the middle of the decade in many regions where BMW has built a market share. In an interview with auto motor und sport in January 2022, Frank Weber, BoM member responsible for Development at BMW AG, shared that even in 2025, customers may not be able to freely drive an electric car due to infrastructure limitations. The progress isn’t as fast as some may have imagined.
Weber said that BMW would not like to put customers in a situation where only EVs are listed on the menu. The brand “will not force” customers to choose between new (electric models) and “old” (ICE models), according to Weber. EV adoption has already gained momentum in China, Western European markets, the United States, and Canada, but ICE models will continue to dominate sales in many markets like Southeast Asia and South America, among others, throughout this decade.
BMW 3 Series sales in North America
BMW passenger car sales in North America plummeted by nearly 11% in Q1 2022 compared to Q1 2021. The brand delivered 31,433 cars in Q1 2022, as opposed to 35,262 units that were delivered in Q1 2021. The 3 Series model line-up sales decreased by 13.5% in North America; BMW has sold 8,156 units of 3 Series models so far in 2022.
Unsurprisingly, the U.S.-built X range of SUVs (X3, X4, X5, X6, and X7) overshadowed the sedans, accounting for 57% of total Q1 2022 sales. The 3er wasn’t the only non-SUV model cannibalized by its SUV siblings; all BMW non-SUV offerings, right from the 2 Series to the 8 Series, witnessed negative growth. Lastly, 347 units of the all-electric BMW iX were sold in Q1 2022.
Featured Image Source: BMW
Keyword: Global BMW 3 Series Electric (2025) will use the Neue Klasse platform