The BMW i3 ranked 14th among the best-selling new energy sedans in China in January with 3,624 units sold, according to a list by the CPCA.
BMW launched the i3, an all-electric version of its hot-selling BMW 3 Series, in China about a year ago, but only one version was offered at the time. Now, the German luxury carmaker has introduced two new, higher-priced variants of the model.
BMW announced today that it is launching the BMW i3 eDrive40L in China, offering two versions with starting prices of RMB 383,900 ($55,930) and 413,900 yuan, respectively.
The BMW i3 eDrive40L is the premium model of the BMW i3 with better performance and longer range, the company said in a press release.
The model has a top power output of 250 kW, a peak torque of 430 Nm and a 0 to 100 km/h sprint in 5.6 seconds, BMW said, adding that the model has a range of 592 km under CLTC standards.
The new BMW i3 eDrive40L rolled off the production line of BMW's plant at the Shenyang production site, the Lydia plant, on February 20, BMW said.
This is the five millionth vehicle produced at BMW's Shenyang production site and marks the beginning of a new chapter in BMW's electrification journey, the company said.
BMW's press release provided no further information about the BMW i3 eDrive40L, although information on its website indicates that the two new variants have the same dimensions as the version of the model previously on sale, with a length, width and height of 4,872 mm, 1,846 mm and 1,481 mm, respectively, and a wheelbase of 2,966 mm.
BMW officially made the BMW i3 available in China on March 31, 2022, when only one version, the BMW i3 eDrive35L, was offered, and only for the Chinese market.
BMW's suggested retail price for the BMW i3 eDrive35L was RMB 349,900 at the time, but its website currently shows a suggested retail price of RMB 353,900.
BMW i3 deliveries in China began in June 2022, with 1,613 units delivered that month, according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).
Notably, at the end of November, some local automotive media reported that Chinese consumers were offered discounts of RMB 80,000-100,000 by dealers when purchasing the BMW i3.
There were even dealers offering discounts of RMB 105,000, which equates to a 30 percent discount, bringing the vehicle's selling price down to around RMB 245,000, according to a Cheshi report.
These discounts seem to have worked to boost sales, as the BMW i3 sold 6,140 units in December, placing it 15th in the CPCA's ranking of the best-selling new energy sedans in China.
In the CPCA's January ranking of new energy sedan sales, the BMW i3 came in at No. 14 with 3,624 units sold.
BMW dealers reportedly offering significant discounts for i3 buyers in China
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