It was once an electric pioneer, built in an environmentally friendly way and, due to the excessive use of carbon, it was as light as no other fully-fledged electric car: the BMW i3 has been built since 2013. Now its end should come earlier than originally planned.
BMW wants to take its electric pioneer out of the program by 2023 at the latest, reports the Automobilwoche. According to information from the industry and business newspaper, employment in the coming year is also conceivable.
Originally, the i3 was supposed to be built by 2024. In the USA, the end threatens even this year. According to a dealer letter, 180 vehicles are to be produced for the US market for the last time in July, after which sales there will be discontinued.
The reason is the growing competition from within the company. In the Cooper SE, for example, Mini takes over the electric drive from the i3, but otherwise offers significantly newer technology. And current models such as the ID.3 from VW or the BMW i4, which will be launched in November, have a much greater range than the now eight-year-old i3.