BMW Is Opening i3 Orders Way Ahead Of Schedule Due To Huge Demand

BMW opened pre-orders for its all-electric i3 sedan on July 1, 2024, significantly ahead of its initial fall schedule, due to overwhelming customer demand. The company reported that the initial production allocation of 10,000 units was fully reserved within 30 minutes of the order books opening. This rapid sell-out prompted BMW to announce an accelerated production ramp-up to meet the sustained interest. The i3, positioned as a premium electric sedan, is expected to compete with models like the Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2. BMW has not yet released detailed pricing for all markets, but initial indications suggest a starting price around $45,000 in the United States. The company also stated that it is exploring options to increase the i3's battery production capacity to support higher volumes in 2025. This early success with the i3 order books indicates a strong market appetite for BMW's electric offerings and signals a potential shift in consumer preference towards premium electric vehicles.