BMW‘s first fully-electric iX3 crossover has just left the production line at the BMW-Brilliance Automotive (BBA) joint venture plant in Shenyang, China, where production kicked off earlier this week on September 29.
This BBA production facility is meant to have a comprehensive quality management system, where a “zero defect concept” strategy ensures that high global market requirements for electric vehicles are met.
The iX3 EV is built by BBA on the same line as the internal combustion engine-powered X3.
Read Also: The 2021 BMW iX3 Is One Pricey Electric SUV, Costs More Than An X6 In The UK At £61,900 ($84,000)
On Tuesday, BBA exec Franz Decker had this to say during the production start event: “Today, we begin production of the BMW iX3, the first pure electric model from our core BMW brand. With a production system like this, specialized for high quality, we are able to deliver what customers worldwide demand from premium vehicles.”
The joint venture conducts no fewer than 128 mechanical tests and 994 software functionality tests to ensure the high quality of the high-voltage batteries. Next up are 140 functional tests that check every aspect of the iX3, including acceleration.
BMW unveiled the iX3 during an online event this past summer in July, boasting about its fifth-generation eDrive system, which includes an 80 kWh battery pack and an electric motor, producing a total system output of 282 HP and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque. Everything then goes to the rear wheels, sending you to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 6.8 seconds, while the top speed is limited to 112 mph (180 km/h).
The iX3 will boast a range of 285 miles (460 km) on a full charge per the WLTP.
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