BMW is getting ready to release its first fully electric SUV, which was previewed this week in Beijing with the debut of the iX3 concept. The production version of the iX3 is expected to arrive in 2020 and now it’s being reported that it will be produced in China.
According to the report, BMW will produce the iX3 in China and then export the electric SUV to North America and Europe. China is currently the world’s biggest market for electric vehicles, so it makes sense that BMW focuses on the Chinese market with the iX3.
“As long as the vehicle is built properly, and BMW will make sure of that, it doesn’t matter too much to consumers where the car comes from,” said Tim Urquhart, an automotive analyst at market researcher IHS Markit told Automotive News. “This will see a low-volume vehicle being made at a low-cost site.”
While the iX3 concept, is being labeled as a concept, it’s expected that it will be close to the production model. The iX3 is based on the latest X3, but it’s powered by a fully electric powertrain with 270 horsepower and a 249 mile driving range.
Source: Automotive News