
BMW on Friday unveiled its Neue Klasse iX3, a next-generation electric sport utility vehicle that the German carmaker hopes will strengthen its position in the premium EV market and help regain ground in China, its largest market.
The iX3, the first model under BMW’s Neue Klasse (German for “new class”) branding, will enter production later this year and go on sale in Europe from March 2026, priced at €68,900 ($80,700), Reuters reported.
With a driving range of more than 800 kilometres and the capability to add 370 km of charge in just ten minutes, the iX3 is expected to set a new benchmark for the company’s EV portfolio. “It represents a completely new model generation. A massive leap that will shape the entire brand for years to come,” BMW CEO Oliver Zipse said at the vehicle showcase in Munich, ahead of the IAA Mobility car show.
The iX3 is central to BMW’s EV expansion strategy, which includes a series of Neue Klasse launches over the coming years. Analysts at Deutsche Bank said the lineup is particularly critical for BMW’s recovery in China, where European brands have been under pressure from aggressive local competition. “As such, Neue Klasse’s success in China will require a careful balancing act: adapting to local market demands and implementing a pricing strategy that resonates with Chinese consumers,” the bank noted.