BMW is accelerating its transition to next-generation electric vehicles as strong demand for its Neue Klasse lineup prompts the automaker to reconsider the production timelines of several existing EVs. The company is moving faster than originally planned to expand its Gen6 electric vehicle production, potentially bringing the end of selected Gen5-powered models closer.

CEO Milan Nedeljković confirmed the accelerated production strategy in an official statement released alongside BMW’s third-quarter results. He said the company had significantly increased its Gen6 production ramp-up this year in response to strong demand, allowing certain current-generation electric models to be phased out earlier than initially scheduled.

Which BMW Electric Cars Could Be Discontinued?

BMW has not officially identified which electric vehicles will be affected by the revised production schedule. However, several existing models could be approaching the end of their production runs as the company introduces Neue Klasse replacements.

The upcoming BMW i3 is widely viewed within the company’s product strategy as a successor to the i4, which could leave production in 2027. The current iX1 is also expected to make way for a substantially different model next year, featuring a rear-wheel-drive platform and cylindrical battery cells.

Further ahead, the BMW iX is expected to be discontinued in 2028, by which time the iX7 will already have entered the market.

The potential changes highlight how quickly BMW is shifting toward Neue Klasse technology. Rather than continuing to produce outgoing electric platforms for their originally planned lifespans, the automaker is prioritizing newer models that are already attracting stronger demand.

New BMW EVs Offer Better Profit Margins

The accelerated transition is not driven by demand alone. BMW is also looking at the financial advantages of its next-generation electric vehicles.

Nedeljković highlighted that newer Gen6 products deliver better profit margins, suggesting that bringing these vehicles to market sooner could improve profitability while the company modernizes its electric lineup.

This approach gives BMW an opportunity to replace older models with vehicles that offer stronger commercial potential, while reducing the need to maintain production of outgoing electric platforms.

BMW Expands Neue Klasse Production Worldwide

The first production vehicle from the Neue Klasse family, the new BMW iX3, has already delivered a strong start. The electric SUV has accumulated more than 100,000 orders, with 50,000 vehicles built within a year of its launch.

Demand has been strong enough for BMW to expand operations at its Debrecen plant in Hungary to three shifts. The facility will produce both the iX3 and the upcoming electric iX4.

BMW is also distributing Gen6 manufacturing across multiple production facilities worldwide. Production is already underway in Debrecen for the iX3 and iX4, Munich for the i3, Dingolfing for the i7, Spartanburg for the iX5, and Shenyang for the long-wheelbase iX3.

The company opened a new battery plant in Irlbach-Straßkirchen in October to supply its German factories. Its Gen6 facility in Shenyang has also recently begun operations.

Additional production capacity is planned in North America. Series production at BMW’s Woodruff facility in South Carolina is scheduled to begin before the end of 2026, followed by the San Luis Potosí plant in Mexico next year.

BMW Plans New Neue Klasse Models Through 2027

The expanding manufacturing network is expected to give BMW greater flexibility to introduce additional Neue Klasse models without encountering production limitations.

The automaker has also committed to launching new derivatives every quarter, with the product rollout scheduled to continue through the end of 2027.

This strategy reflects BMW’s broader effort to accelerate the introduction of its next-generation electric technology while expanding production capacity across several international markets.

BMW i1 Compact Electric Car Expected in 2028

BMW’s CEO also reiterated plans to introduce a new entry-level compact electric vehicle in Europe in 2028. Although Nedeljković did not identify the model, the announcement is believed to point toward a vehicle separate from the next-generation iX1.

BMW could introduce an i1 five-door hatchback based on the same underlying architecture as its next-generation electric crossover.

With Neue Klasse demand continuing to build, BMW is prepared to accelerate the replacement of existing electric vehicles rather than maintain their production schedules for as long as originally planned. The combination of stronger demand and improved profit margins is driving a faster transition across the company’s electric vehicle lineup.