BMW i3 Demand Runs So Hot That Orders Open Ahead Of Schedule

The new BMW i3 marks a major leap for the brand as it carries the 3 Series into fully electric territory. According to a fresh report, the response has been so strong that BMW is bringing its plans forward. Rather than open order books later in the year, the firm will start taking orders this week. Production timing stays the same, but customers can place their orders starting on Thursday. It is a clear sign that this electric saloon has struck a chord with buyers well ahead of expectations.

A report from Automobilwoche, citing company sources, says BMW will begin accepting orders for a special 1st Edition version of the i3 from 18 June. The shift is significant because the original plan reportedly pointed to an autumn start. BMW has not officially confirmed the change, yet the publication suggests that strong customer interest following the car’s March debut in Munich drove the decision. Demand, it seems, simply outpaced the schedule the company had originally mapped out for the model.

That keen response should not catch close observers off guard. BMW executives were already hinting at remarkable interest soon after the i3 broke cover. Sales chief Jochen Goller reportedly noted that demand for the saloon eclipsed even the warm reaction surrounding the upcoming iX3. That is a notable yardstick, given the electric SUV is said to have gathered roughly 50,000 orders within months of its reveal, alongside more than 10,000 sales across Europe in just two months on the market.

The i3’s appeal also reaches far beyond BMW’s home turf. The report indicates the saloon has earned positive feedback in both Europe and China, with its showing at the Beijing Auto Show lifting its profile in one of the world’s most vital EV markets. BMW has even floated the idea that the i3 could reinvigorate the midsize saloon segment. That is an ambitious aim, yet the specifications give the firm plenty to shout about as it courts buyers across multiple continents.

The version revealed so far, the i3 50 xDrive, produces 469 horsepower from a dual-motor all-wheel-drive layout and claims up to 900 kilometres, or 559 miles, of range on the relevant test cycle. Despite the earlier ordering window, production plans reportedly stay put, with series build expected to start at the Munich plant in August. If demand proves as robust as suggested, the real question may shift from when orders open to whether BMW can build enough cars to satisfy eager buyers.