Zipse told an earnings call that the production version will go into production in 2025 at the new plant in Debrecen, Hungary, followed by Plant Munich in 2026.
‘Neue Klasse’ is a new architecture, and over the 10 years [from 2025], we will build many cars from it,’ explains the CEO in a wide-ranging interview with CAR, with photography by Fabian Kirchbauer. Although the car will be instantly recognisable as a BMW, expect the proportions to alter, with the ‘engine’ bay reduced with cylinder counts dropping or disappearing altogether, and the wheelbase growing to boost interior space.The Neue Klasse architecture will come in a ‘high’ version for bigger-wheeled SUVs such as the iX3 replacement, as well as the ‘low’ version underpinning saloons and Tourings. Will it make the 3-series obsolete? ‘It’s a good question.
‘This year, steel has got 30 per cent more expensive. Aluminium, plastics, rhodium, palladium, rare earths – almost anything. If you can’t buy it, like semiconductors today, you cannot produce cars. But before not being there, materials become really expensive.’ Gen 6 battery packs will be modular, to layer on sufficient range at an affordable price for mainstream models – or plenty to power high-performance M Division EVs.It’s too early for stepchange ‘solid-state’ batteries however, which replace the liquid electrolyte with solid materials, to yield a boost in energy density and more durability despite the high loads.
Because autonomy is uncharted water, it’s difficult for regulators to create a testing regime that they know is sufficiently all-encompassing to ensure the cars are safe.