BMW Wants To Kill Off i3 EV Hatch In Favor Of Other Models

The days of quirky BMW EVs might be numbered as the automaker’s marketing director, Pieter Nota, claims that his company will not develop a successor to its fully-electric i3 hatchback.

According to Nota, the i3 will be phased out slowly as BMW looks to focus on battery-electric and plug-in hybrid versions of its other models, while also investing heavily in new fully electric models, reports Autonews Europe.

“There is no concrete plan for an i3 successor. We are now bringing electrification more into the mainstream,” he said in an interview with the Financial Times.

BMW’s goal is to reportedly focus on plug-in hybrid versions of its best selling nameplates in order for them to run on electric power only in the city, while also being able to cover longer distances. The Bavarian carmaker is planning on having a total of 13 fully-electric models in its range by the year 2023.

Also read: BMW i3 And i8 Recalled Over Faulty Electric Module That Could Lead To Power Loss

The i3 has been in production since 2013 and was developed as a so-called subcompact luxury vehicle. It was also BMW’s first ever production zero emissions vehicle and its main goal was to gauge customers’ response to electrification without having to interfere with sedan or crossover sales.

Right now, U.S. buyers can purchase a fully-electric BMW i3 from $44,450. That price however goes up to $48,300 if you opt for the 2-cylinder gasoline Range Extender. Meanwhile, the i3s flagship version will set you back at least $47,650, or $51,500 with its own Range Extender.