BMW has finally put dates on its most important electric launch in China. The Neue Klasse iX3 SUV will officially launch on November 25, 2026, with test drives and customer deliveries starting the same day, and the Neue Klasse i3 sedan will follow on November 27 at the Guangzhou Auto Show. BMW China announced both dates on its official Weibo account on Monday, November 9. The BMW Neue Klasse iX3 i3 China launch is now firmly dated for late November.
The announcement turns a vague "deliveries in November" promise into a firm plan — and it comes at a moment when BMW needs a win in China. BMW and Mini delivered about 376,000 vehicles in the country in the first nine months of 2026, down 21.8% from a year earlier.
Key Takeaways
- BMW iX3: launches November 25, 2026 in China; test drives and deliveries start the same day.
- BMW i3: launches November 27, 2026 at the Guangzhou Auto Show; firm orders open immediately, with no preliminary reservation needed.
- Pricing: iX3 pre-sale prices of 269,900 / 299,900 / 339,900 yuan (about $40,170–$50,700) will match the official launch prices. Both cars use nationwide uniform pricing.
- Platform: both are China-only long-wheelbase models on BMW’s Neue Klasse platform with 800V architecture and sixth-generation eDrive.
- Range claim: BMW says the i3 50L covered 1,213 km in a real-world road test without recharging — a company claim, not an independent test.
BMW iX3: Same-Day Deliveries From November 25
The iX3 is the first of the pair to reach customers. BMW opened reservations for the China-exclusive long-wheelbase iX3 on August 21, and customers with existing reservations can convert them directly into firm orders at launch.
Three variants are on offer at pre-sale prices BMW says will not change at launch: the entry-level iX3 30L at 269,900 yuan (about $40,170), the iX3 40L xDrive at 299,900 yuan, and the iX3 50L xDrive at 339,900 yuan (about $50,700).
The China iX3 is a long-wheelbase model built by BMW Brilliance in Shenyang. Its wheelbase measures 3,005 mm — 108 mm longer than the standard-wheelbase version sold overseas. BMW is tailoring the car to China in other ways too: the driver-assistance system was jointly developed with Chinese autonomous-driving company Momenta.
BMW i3: Sedan Debut at the Guangzhou Auto Show
The Neue Klasse i3 is an all-electric sedan on the same 3,005 mm wheelbase, built on a dedicated pure-electric platform with 800V architecture. It launches on November 27, the opening day of the Guangzhou Auto Show, which runs until December 6.
Unlike the iX3, BMW is skipping the small refundable-deposit stage for the i3: buyers can lock in a firm order from launch day without placing a preliminary reservation first. BMW has not yet announced i3 prices or variant names, and production of the sedan in China is slated to begin in January 2027, with deliveries expected in the first quarter of 2027.
The headline number attached to the i3 is its range. BMW says the long-wheelbase i3 50L traveled 1,213 km in a real-world road test without recharging. That is a company-run test, not an independent or standardised result, so treat it as a claim until certified range figures are published.
What Is Confirmed — and What Is Not
| Item | Status on November 9, 2026 |
|---|---|
| iX3 launch, test drives and deliveries on November 25 | Confirmed by BMW China (Weibo) |
| i3 launch and firm orders at Guangzhou on November 27 | Confirmed |
| iX3 pre-sale prices (269,900–339,900 yuan) | Confirmed — will match launch prices |
| Nationwide uniform pricing for both models | Confirmed |
| i3 prices and variant names | Not announced yet |
| i3 battery size and certified range by variant | Not announced yet |
| 1,213 km i3 road-test figure | BMW company claim, not independently verified |
Local battery production is already in place to support the rollout. BMW announced on October 15 that its sixth-generation high-voltage batteries had entered mass production in Shenyang, initially supplying the Neue Klasse iX3 and i3.
Why This Launch Matters
The Neue Klasse is BMW’s biggest platform bet in years — a clean-sheet electric architecture with 800V charging, new battery cells and new software. China is where that bet will be judged first: it is the world’s largest EV market, and it is also where BMW’s sales have fallen furthest this year.
The two models also show how far BMW has gone in building cars specifically for China rather than adapting global ones. Both are long-wheelbase only, both use locally produced Gen 6 batteries, and the iX3’s driver assistance comes from a local partner. The i3’s Guangzhou debut — rather than a European show — underlines the point.
For buyers outside China, neither long-wheelbase model has been announced for other markets. The standard-wheelbase iX3 sold overseas is a separate car, and BMW has not said when — or whether — the new i3 sedan will reach other regions.
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FAQ
When does the BMW Neue Klasse iX3 launch in China?
November 25, 2026. Test drives and customer deliveries start the same day, and existing reservations can be converted directly into firm orders.
When does the BMW Neue Klasse i3 launch in China?
November 27, 2026, at the Guangzhou Auto Show. Firm orders open immediately, with no preliminary reservation needed.
How much does the BMW iX3 cost in China?
Pre-sale prices are 269,900 yuan for the iX3 30L, 299,900 yuan for the iX3 40L xDrive and 339,900 yuan for the iX3 50L xDrive (about $40,170–$50,700). BMW says these will match the official launch prices.
What is the range of the BMW i3?
BMW has not published certified range figures yet. It says the i3 50L covered 1,213 km in a real-world road test without recharging — a company claim, not an independent test result.
Will the China BMW iX3 and i3 be sold in other countries?
Not announced. Both are China-only long-wheelbase models built in Shenyang, and BMW has not confirmed them for any other market.
