Can BMW Regain Business in China with Electric SUV & Sedan?

BMW is pushing hard to win back electric vehicle buyers in China, where legacy automakers have lost ground fast to homegrown Chinese EV brands. At the Chengdu Motor Show, BMW unveiled two China-only electric models and started pre-sales for a long-wheelbase version of its new iX3 electric SUV. Three trims are priced from about 269,900 to 339,900 yuan, roughly $40,150 to $50,565. BMW says the pre-sale price will hold through launch, with deliveries starting in November.

The iX3 offers about 900 kilometers (560 miles) of range on a full charge and uses an 800-volt electrical system, which generally allows faster charging than older EV designs. The same model has already done well in Europe, pulling in 100,000 orders since its 2025 launch, but China's EV market is far more crowded and competitive, so it is unclear whether the car will repeat that success there.

This is mainly a story about BMW's fortunes in the Chinese car market, not something that changes what is available to US homeowners right now. If BMW's Neue Klasse EV technology, including the faster 800-volt charging system, eventually reaches vehicles sold in the US, it could matter for anyone thinking about pairing a home charger or solar setup with a future EV purchase. For now, though, it is worth watching as background on where EV technology is headed rather than something that affects your home today.