Following a report last week, BMW has confirmed it’s phasing out the i3 in the United States.
In a statement to CarScoops, the automaker said production of the US-spec i3 will end next month.
BMW went on to say the model “represented a pioneering moment in electric vehicles and lightweight construction” as it was “one of the world’s first purpose-built electric vehicles,” and utilized aluminum as well as carbon fiber reinforced plastic. The automaker went on to say “The success of BMW i3 and the experience gained in developing and manufacturing it have laid the groundwork for the next generation of BMW electric vehicles – the fully electric BMW iX Sports Activity Vehicle and the BMW i4 Gran Coupe, both of which arrive in the U.S. early next year.”
Also Read: BMW Reveals i4’s Interior, Specs And U.S Pricing
While there’s no denying the i3 was a revolutionary electric vehicle, it never really caught on with American consumers. U.S. sales peaked at 11,024 units in 2015 and have fallen every year since then. They dropped to a mere 1,508 units last year, but sales were undoubtedly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
The funky hatch will effectively be replaced by the 2022 i4 eDrive40 which starts at $55,400. That makes the model more than $10,000 more expensive than the i3, but the entry-level i4 features a rear-mounted electric motor that produces 335 hp (250 kW / 340 PS) and 317 lb-ft (430 Nm) of torque.
This enables the EV to accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-96 km/h) in 5.7 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 118 mph (190 km/h). More importantly, the i4 eDrive40 has an 83.9 kWh battery pack which is expected to deliver an EPA range of up to 300 miles (483 km). This is nearly twice the range of the entry-level i3.
