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After 9 Years Of Production, BMW i3 Will Be Phased Out In July
After a nine-year lifespan and about 250,000 units sold, the BMW i3 will be phased out in just six months.
A BMW spokesperson confirmed to Autocar that the final example of the compact electric five-door will roll off the production line in Leipzig, Germany in July, ahead of a reorganization of the manufacturing facility in preparation for the start of production of the upcoming third-generation Mini Countryman in the second half of 2022.
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The i3 was the first BMW model to provide a pure-electric driveline, predating the larger, Chinese-produced BMW iX3 SUV, which was delivered in 2021. It was first shown as a concept car in 2011 before being released in the UK in 2013.
The iX1, an electric version of the third-generation X1, will indirectly replace the eccentric hatchback in the BMW lineup, with its rear-hinged rear doors and pricey carbonfibre construction. The five-seat crossover was supposed to be built at a new factory in Debrecen, Hungary, and should be available this year. According to Autocar sources, due to delays in the greenfield site’s construction, the i3 replacement will now be produced in BMW’s Regensburg factory until 2024.
The next entry-level I vehicle, like the future X1 and new Mini Countryman, is built on BMW’s FAAR platform, signaling the end of production for the aluminum-intensive DriveLife platform that underlies the i3.
BMW claims it will rely on a new second-generation Mini Electric to fill the vacuum left by the i3’s departure, in addition to the iX1.
The new Mini model, due out in early 2023, is being developed by Spotlight Automotive, a joint venture between BMW and Chinese automaker Great Wall Motors. It will be manufactured at a new Spotlight Automotive facility in Zhangjiagang, China, which is currently under development.
The rear-wheel-drive i3 was initially available with a single-motor electric drivetrain or a range extender (REx) drivetrain, which combined a 647cc two-cylinder petrol motorcycle engine with an electric motor. It utilised a 22.2kWh lithium ion battery in both cases and had a maximum output of 168bhp.
