As part of its annual results conference BMW has confirmed that it will offer a fully electric 3 series model as part of its electrification ramp-up, which will see 15 EVs in production by the end of 2022.
The brand has raised its targets when it concerns electrification and described that: “This year, including pre-production vehicles, the company will already have 15 fully-electric models in production – covering around 90 per cent of its current segments.
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“In addition to existing models like the BMW i4, BMW iX and small Electric, this also includes four high-volume BMW model series: the BMW 3 series and BMW 5 Series, the BMW X1 and the BMW X3. The new BMW 7 series also has a special role to play in 2022, with the launch of the new BMW i7.”
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However, while it’s inevitable that a fully electric BMW 3 series for Europe will join the range in time, for now this model will be limited to the Chinese market only.
BMW confirmed it will launch a production version of the fully-electric long-wheelbase 3 series for China this year, a automobile which was leaked last year through images from the Chinese patent office and which car Express’s spy photographers have previously caught testing.
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The new stretched electric 3 series – thought not to be badged i3 in China, as per the brand’s convention in Europe for its electric models – will rival the Tesla model 3, as well as Citroen’s upcoming flagship C5 X electric saloon.