BMW’s Neue Klasse Era Begins as i3, i5, and iX1 Exit China

BMW is reportedly preparing to halt production of all three of its China-built electric vehicles next month as the automaker transitions to its next-generation Neue Klasse platform.

The move would leave BMW Brilliance, the company’s Chinese joint venture, temporarily without a mainstream EV lineup while paving the way for a new generation of electric vehicles designed around improved range, charging performance, and software capabilities.

BMW prepares major EV platform transition in China

According to reports, production of the BMW i3, i5, and iX1 in China will end in July. All three models are based on BMW’s CLAR architecture, a platform originally developed to support both combustion-powered and electric vehicles.

The timing is notable because the three models represent BMW’s entire locally produced EV portfolio in China. The i3, first introduced in 2022, became the most successful of the group thanks to its connection with the popular BMW 3 Series. The model has remained a key volume contributor despite significant price reductions in recent years, according to CNEV Post.

The i5 joined the lineup in 2024 as BMW’s newest electric sedan offering, while the iX1 currently serves as the brand’s primary electric SUV in the Chinese market. The transition follows the discontinuation of the iX3 last year and comes ahead of the planned retirement of imported iX models.

As a result, BMW’s electric vehicle presence in China will temporarily shrink to a handful of imported performance-oriented variants until replacement models arrive.

Neue Klasse models set to launch later this year

Rather than slowing its electrification plans, BMW appears to be accelerating its shift toward dedicated EV technology. The company is replacing its multi-energy CLAR architecture with the Neue Klasse platform, which was developed exclusively for electric vehicles.

The first China-focused Neue Klasse product will be a long-wheelbase version of the iX3. The model features an 800-volt electrical architecture and is expected to deliver more than 900 kilometers of range under the CLTC testing cycle. Production is anticipated to begin later this year, with market launch expected during the fourth quarter.

BMW will follow that vehicle with a long-wheelbase i3 based on the same architecture, which is scheduled to enter production in early 2027.

Beyond improvements in efficiency and charging performance, the Neue Klasse generation is expected to deliver significant upgrades in software and driver-assistance technology. The new iX3 will debut an advanced driver-assistance system developed jointly by BMW and Chinese autonomous driving company Momenta.

For BMW, the temporary gap in its EV lineup appears to be a calculated move as it transitions from adapted electric vehicles to a purpose-built EV platform designed to compete more effectively in China’s rapidly evolving electric vehicle market.

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