BMW had originally scheduled the opening of order books for the upcoming i3 sedan for this autumn, but the automaker has moved the date up to this week. The catalyst is the kind of “happy problem” every car maker dreams of – far more customers want the vehicle than anticipated, and BMW decided it would be impolite to keep them waiting.
When will the i3 be available in the United States?
According to Germany’s Automobilwoche, BMW is already accepting reservations for a “1st Edition” i3 in Germany, well ahead of the planned timeline. At present, only the i3 50 xDrive is on offer.
The early launch does not affect the production schedule; assembly in Munich is still set to commence in August. For U.S. buyers, the wait will be longer, with the i3 slated to arrive in 2027 and pricing yet to be disclosed.
When it finally reaches the U.S., the model will feature a NACS charging port, enabling native use of Tesla Superchargers, and will include a CCS adapter for other charging networks.
What does the BMW i3 bring to the table?
Pre‑release EPA estimates give the i3 a range of roughly 440 miles, surpassing the range of any current Tesla model sold in the U.S. Power is delivered by two electric motors producing 469 hp and 476 lb‑ft of torque.
The motors draw energy from an approximately 107 kWh battery capable of charging at up to 400 kW. This rapid charge rate means a jump from 10 % to 80 % takes only about 22 minutes despite the large battery.
Every i3 will also feature Vehicle‑to‑Load capability, allowing up to 3.7 kW to be drawn from the battery to run tools, appliances, or other electronics. A rear‑wheel‑drive variant with a smaller battery pack is expected in the future, though BMW has not confirmed a timeline.