BMW has started building near-series test vehicles for the new BMW i3, a behind-the-scenes step that signals the electric sedan is moving closer to full production. Series production is still slated for the second half of 2026, but this phase is where the theoretical turns practical.
These early cars aren’t prototypes in the traditional sense. They’re built to closely resemble final production vehicles and are used to stress-test BMW’s manufacturing process as much as the vehicle itself. For the first time, the i3 is being assembled entirely at the Munich plant, running through every stage of production on site rather than splitting work with BMW’s nearby pilot facility.
That matters because it puts real pressure on the factory’s systems. The test vehicles pass through the plant’s updated press shop, new body shop, paint facility, and final assembly line using the same logistics flows and equipment planned for customer cars. Even though production volumes are still low, every part is delivered and installed exactly as it would be once the i3 goes into full production.
At this stage, BMW is less concerned with speed and more focused on consistency. Engineers and production teams are closely monitoring each step, paying particular attention to new tooling, manufacturing equipment, and how well those systems communicate with BMW’s existing digital infrastructure. Any issues that surface now can be addressed before the production line is fully ramped up.
Over the next several months, BMW will continue refining these processes based on what it learns from the pre-series builds. It’s the unglamorous but essential work that happens long before a new model reaches a showroom—and a necessary checkpoint if BMW wants the i3’s 2026 launch to go smoothly.
