- BMW and Momenta are conducting development and testing across four bases in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang, and Nanjing.
- The China-exclusive BMW iX3 is expected to debut later this year with deliveries commencing in summer 2026.
The all-new BMW iX3 electric SUV (sport utility vehicle), set for delivery starting summer 2026, will be the first model equipped with the driving assistance system jointly developed by BMW and Momenta.
Both companies announced the plan in separate statements today, noting that Momenta and BMW's R&D teams are currently collaborating on field development and testing across four bases in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang, and Nanjing.
The two companies are conducting large-scale real-world vehicle testing adhering to BMW's validation standards, covering high-frequency scenarios with dense traffic flow and challenging extreme conditions, according to their statements.
Combined with over 100 million kilometers of simulation testing, BMW and Momenta are continuously validating the system's stability and reliability, they said.
The system is based on a new-generation intelligent architecture and platform, utilizing end-to-end large language model technologies to adapt to China's complex traffic environment, BMW said.
The domestically produced next-generation BMW iX3 is slated for official production at BMW Brilliance's Shenyang manufacturing base in 2026, with market launch in the same year, Momenta's statement noted.
BMW and Momenta announced their partnership on July 15 to develop a smart driving system for China, which would be deployed across multiple BMW models including domestically produced next-generation vehicles.
This collaboration positions BMW as the latest automotive giant -- following Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, and Nissan -- to partner with Momenta on smart driving system development.
On September 5, BMW announced the China-exclusive BMW iX3 would debut within this year, with deliveries commencing in summer 2026.
The Chinese version of the all-new BMW iX3 will be specially optimized for Chinese users in terms of intelligence, driving pleasure, and comfort, the German luxury automaker said at the time.
The model will incorporate BMW's custom large language model technology co-developed with Alibaba and feature smart driving assistance systems developed with local partners that better understand China's driving environment.
