Recently, BMW said on the first quarter earnings conference call that it would launch the Neue Klasse electric vehicle platform, which is currently under development. The first model under the platform will be a new electric 3-series, which is different from the I3 on sale in China. The new car will be launched in 2025.
Neue Klasse platform will be put into operation in a new plant in Hungary around 2025. Vehicles based on the new platform will only provide pure electric power systems, contrary to previous reports that also support fuel powered vehicles. BMW CEO Oliver zipse recently confirmed that the initial focus of this new platform will be medium-sized luxury cars.
In addition, after the launch of the new electric 3-series, BMW is expected to expand the application range of Neue Klasse platform, from traffic models to niche high-performance models. At the same time, the company's fuel models will continue to be based on other platforms.
As far as the new electric 3 series is concerned, it will be listed in 2025, which is very different from the I3 currently sold in China. The latter is an electric version based on cash 3 series, which is a product based on clar platform, rather than a special platform for electric vehicles. This unique electric car in China is equipped with a 70 kwh battery pack, with a range of only 526 kilometers.