- BMW has canceled its iX electric SUV in the U.S., though it will remain in other markets.
- The upcoming iX3 rides on an all-new platform meant to shape the company’s electric future.
BMW has canceled its iX midsize electric SUV in the U.S. The company will continue building the car to sell overseas. In the U.S., however, its place in the showroom goes to the upcoming iX3, which rides on an all-new platform intended to power the company’s electric future.
BMWBlog had the story first. The automaker has since confirmed it, telling multiple media outlets in an identical statement that it is “concluding U.S. allocation of the BMW iX as we prepare for the next generation of our fully electric vehicles.”
The iX was BMW’s first all-electric SUV. Our editors appreciate its range (up to 309 miles), luxurious cabin, and BMW’s commitment to building it sustainably. But its price (starting at nearly $90,000) has proven a sales hurdle as more automakers have introduced rivals, often at lower prices.
The iX will likely remain available on dealer lots through late summer. Kelley Blue Book data show that dealers have a more than 3-month supply of unsold iX models in their showrooms today. Sales of a model often slow further after news of its looming end.
Replaced By A Less Expensive, More Advanced Model
- The iX3 helps launch a new generation of electric BMWs with longer range and a radically different design theme.
The iX3 that takes its place promises to be more advanced in nearly every way. It’s one of two models BMW is calling its Neue Klasse cars. That’s a signal to loyalists – the company used the same name for the mid-1960s lineup of cars that built its modern luxury, high-performance reputation in the U.S.
The iX3 is a visually simpler design, abandoning the oversized twin-kidney grille look that has proven divisive on the current BMW lineup. It features a thin, high-mounted display that stretches across the entire dashboard above the level of the steering wheel as the crowning feature of a clean, minimalist cabin.
The company promises a price closer to $60,000, and has projected a range of up to 400 miles (though no figures are official yet).
