BMW i3 Already in High Demand

BMW is already considering a production increase for the i3 electric car after early demand for the model exceeded all expectations.  Customers have reserved more than 8,000 of the compact city car, which will cost $41,350 in the U.S., even before the battery-powered model hits European showrooms this month

“If demand holds, which is what it’s looking like, we will soon have to invest more,” says Norbert Reithofer, chief executive officer of BMW.  “We expect to sell more than 10,000 of the i3 next year and “will adjust capacity according to demand.”

The i3 will go on sale in Germany for 34,950 euros ($47,440) on Nov. 16, followed by the U.S., China and Japan in the first half of next year. The model made its public debut July 29 at simultaneous events in New York, London and Beijing.

BMW is addressing concerns over so-called range anxiety with a unique option: the use of a sport-utility vehicle. Customers who buy the i3 have the option to purchase a feature allowing them to book a conventional auto like the full-sized X5 SUV for several weeks a year as a backup.

The BMW i3 will offer interior space comparable to the legendary BMW 3 Series on a shorter overall body. Its 32.3-foot turning circle and a relatively long wheelbase make it agile and engaging to drive, yet ideally suited to driving in dense urban areas.

The BMW i3’s 170 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque hybrid-synchronous electric motor, developed and produced by BMW, is electrified by a 22-kWh lithium-ion battery, good for 80-100 miles of emission-free driving.

Quick and convenient charging is possible either with the home charging station supplied by BMW i or at any public charging station that uses a Level 2 SAE J1772 charging system. DC fast charging, using the SAE DC Combo-Fast Charger, will be available as an option. From a public fast-charging station, it will provide an 80 percent charge from a fully depleted battery in just 20 minutes.

The BMW i3 is the first of BMW’s line of electric cars, which will include the high-performance i8, scheduled to go on sale in the Spring.

For further information, or to book an early test drive, please contact Braman BMW in West Palm Beach or Jupiter.