BMW has resurrected the term “Neue Klasse” to refer to its next-generation electric vehicles; it previously referred to the cars launched in the 1960s that kicked off the company’s rise. In this case, the BMW Neue Klasse 3 Series EV will be an all-electric version of BMW’s iconic luxury sport sedan.

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Why It Matters

Like most everyone else, BMW is in the midst of transitioning to an all-electric lineup, and this all-new 3 Series plays a pivotal role, with the model being a staple since its 1975 introduction. We expect the electric 3 Series will take styling inspiration from the BMW i Vision DEE concept, a retro-futuristic sedan that made use of the automaker’s e-ink technology instead of conventional paint. It’s unlikely that tech makes production, but one can dream, right?

Platform and Powertrain

As you might surmise, the 3 Series EV will ride on BMW’s Neue Klasse platform, and it will likely revive the i3 moniker to slot in properly with the i5 and the i7. Battery pack assembly will take place at the automaker’s $700 million plant near Woodruff, South Carolina, which will have an annual capacity of 30 GWh. Full specifications for the Neue Klasse underpinnings have yet to be announced, but expect BMW to develop a higher-capacity battery pack than the 70.3-kWh unit from the China-only i3 eDrive35L sedan. The volume-selling model will likely feature a rear-motor, rear-wheel-drive setup that meets or beats the current 330i’s 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Inside the cabin, we’re expecting BMW to outfit the Neue Klasse 3 Series EV with lots of digital real estate and fewer hard buttons than ever.

Estimated Price

We expect the next-gen, all-electric 3 Series to start at around $45,000.

Expected On-Sale Date

The EV 3 Series is expected to hit the market sometime in the 2025 calendar year.

2026 BMW 3 Series EV

2026 BMW 3 Series EV

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