BMW has confirmed that the fully electric i3 50 xDrive will arrive in South Africa in 2027.
Joining the iX3, which will be launched later this year, the i3 sedan represents the second Neue Klasse model in South Africa, and the first all-electric BMW 3 Series in the local market.
Despite BMW’s expansive local production, the i3 50 xDrive will be built in Germany, specifically in the Milbertshofen plant, which has been producing cars for over one hundred years.
Production will start from August 2026, but South African buyers will have to wait until the first quarter of next year before they land on our shores.
“As the second model in the Neue Klasse, it represents a technological quantum leap into a new era,” said the German automaker.
“Sportiness and driving pleasure are invariably embedded in the DNA of the BMW 3 Series. The new BMW i3 sets new standards, maximising the unmatched capabilities of electromobility, and offers impressively precise, effortless, and assured handling.”
Details on pricing and its full line-up are not yet known, and will only become available closer to the i3’s launch window.
What we know so far
The BMW i3 50 xDrive promises to be a high-performance and high-tech sedan, and as a representative of the brand’s new design language, is still immediately recognisable as a BMW 3 Series.
The brand has outlined that this can be seen in its hallmark sporty silhouette proportions reflected in the new 2.5-box design.
Notable features include a long wheelbase and what BMW is calling “the greenhouse”, which slopes towards the rear and short overhangs, as well as flared wheel arches, which emphasise its sporty, wide stance.
The i3’s grille and twin headlights merge into a single light signature, while at the back, the car features prominently horizontal rear lights.
Inside, a spacious and sporty cabin features BMW’s all-new Panoramic iDrive that aims to usher in a new era of driver orientation.
This system projects driving information across the length of the windscreen instead of making use of a driver’s instrument cluster, joined by the 17.9-inch infotainment screen also found in the iX3.
Modes are highly customisable, allowing drivers to not only personalise screens, but also the ambience and atmosphere in the cabin.
BMW’s Heart of Joy high-performance computer acts as the centrepiece for the new software and electronics architecture, shaping the i3’s driving experience with response times ten times faster than previous systems.
In terms of performance, BMW opted for two electric motors, each one fitted over one of the axles, making for a powerful four-wheel-drive offering.
Combined, these motors are capable of a staggering 345kW and 645Nm while remaining highly efficient.
With a claimed WLTP range of up to 900km, the i3 is suitable for long journeys, while its 400kW DC charging capability reduces time spent charging, recharging batteries enough for a 400km journey in only 10 minutes
The BMW i3 also features bidirectional charging functions, which include Vehicle-to-Load, Vehicle-to-Home and Vehicle-to-Grid.
More details will become available closer to the vehicle’s official launch window next year.
BMW i3 50 xDrive
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