BMW Begins Building the i3 Sedan in Munich

BMW has moved the new i3 from preview status into full industrial reality. Series production is now underway at the company’s long-established Munich plant, where the electric sedan is rolling off the line as the first BMW in the 3 Series class to be built there with a fully electric powertrain. It is also the second Neue Klasse model to enter large-scale production in Munich.

According to BMW, output will rise sharply in the near future as the plant prepares for stronger demand. For buyers following the premium EV segment, this marks the first major manufacturing step for a model positioned at the heart of BMW’s lineup, while also confirming Munich’s path toward a battery-electric future.

Strong Interest Drives a Faster Ramp-Up

BMW says the i3 sedan has entered series production on the main assembly line at BMW Group Plant Munich, the company’s traditional production base. The automaker describes the car as the second Neue Klasse vehicle to be manufactured there at full scale, showing that its next-generation EV strategy is now becoming a tangible part of everyday production.

High early interest is one of the reasons BMW is increasing output quickly. The company is preparing additional capacity and shifts to support demand, choosing to move directly into full production rather than extending a lengthy pilot phase.

The i3’s journey has been visible for months, from early teaser coverage before its debut to the launch of the 2026 BMW i3 First Edition. Those milestones built anticipation, and the start of production in Munich now turns the car into a permanent part of BMW’s manufacturing plan.

Munich’s Electric Transition Takes Shape

The i3 is a central element of BMW’s broader Neue Klasse program, a flexible EV platform that will underpin multiple future models. BMW has confirmed that from 2027 onward, Plant Munich will produce only battery-electric vehicles, with the i3 and another Neue Klasse model anchoring that change.

BMW also reports that introducing the i3 has reduced manufacturing costs in Munich by 10 percent, thanks to more efficient production methods tied to the Neue Klasse architecture. That savings suggests the company sees the i3 as more than a niche electric sedan; it is being positioned as a high-volume model that can support the wider factory network.

In addition, BMW plans to build the standard-wheelbase i3 in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, starting in 2027, expanding Neue Klasse production beyond Germany. For now, though, Munich is leading the rollout, and every sedan assembled there helps determine how quickly BMW can reshape its legacy plants around electrification.