Due To A Shortage Of Boring Wheels, BMW Is Halting Some iX1 Production

If a new car customer orders a fancy personalisation option, such as a Porsche paint-to-sample colour, they may have to wait a long time for their vehicle. However, some drivers who were hoping to receive their normal electric BMW SUVs this summer would have to wait until autumn since they requested something that should come standard.

This appears to be the case for some BMW iX1 buyers in Europe, where production issues related to the basic 17- and 18-inch wheels are allegedly causing builds to be halted and delivery to be delayed by several months.

In a letter to dealers obtained by Automobilwoche, a BMW manufacturing manager stated, “There are still enough wheels for production in May, but even in June the capacities will not be sufficient.” The manager acknowledged that “it will certainly take some time until this bottleneck is cleared,” even though the reason for the error was not disclosed and BMW was in communication with the supplier. Carbon fibre center-lock wheels are not required for this limited-edition supercar.

We’re talking about the smaller, less expensive wheels that many consumers expressly select because, although they may not look as good as larger rims, they are more reasonably priced and provide a more comfortable ride. They also offer the best electric range, which is crucial for an EV.

BMW recommends switching customers to 19-inch wheels as a solution. However, it is said that the wider wheels force buyers to upgrade into more expensive trim packages, which raise the total cost by about €1,900 ($2,100). Additionally, buyers may lose some driving range.

The range of a bone-stock iX1 on 17s is claimed to be 320 miles (515 km), although it lowers to 316 miles (509 km) on 19s and 305 miles (491 km) on 20s. Oddly, the basic 18s are in scarce supply and have a range of 313 miles (504 km); the only people who will lose out on range by upgrading to 19s are those who desired the free option 17s.

The delays could be quite annoying for clients who are waiting on trade-ins or leases that are about to expire. According to reports, one dealer delayed the delivery of an iX1 by about three months, leaving the customer to figure out transportation in the interim. If we were discussing a specialised product, it wouldn’t be too bad, but on a continent where electric sales are still booming, the soon-to-be-facelifted iX1 is a major problem. One dealer told the German outlet, “The iX1 has become our bread and butter vehicle.”

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