While many rivals have shifted their electric vehicle strategies more than once, BMW has stayed the course with its well-thought-out plan, quietly becoming one of the most successful Western EV manufacturers. Now, the company has announced it has built its 2 millionth EV. This milestone vehicle, a blue i5 M60 destined for a customer in Spain, recently rolled off the production line at BMW's Dingolfing plant in Germany.
With over 2 million EVs sold, BMW now trails only Tesla and Volkswagen among Western automakers, at least based on publicly available data. Tesla reports deliveries of around 9.2 million vehicles, while Volkswagen has delivered 4 million all-electric vehicles, with approximately 3 million based on the MEB platform alone. Volkswagen also produces many EVs in China, but states that roughly 77% of its 4 million EVs were manufactured in Europe.
BMW isn't typically seen as an EV powerhouse, but examining its electric model history and the gradual build-up of its electric lineup reveals a clear strategy. Unlike Tesla, which relied heavily on two exceptionally popular and mechanically related models (the Model 3 and Model Y), BMW adopted a more flexible, broader approach where no single model was the sole driver of its success.
The company's strategy of offering both dedicated EVs and electric models built on modified combustion car platforms has drawn some criticism. The latter approach meant these vehicles were often seen as compromises. Models like the i4, i5, i7, iX1, and iX2 currently on sale are electric versions of combustion-powered models. While they might not be class-leading in every aspect, and the shared platform can show its limitations, they have still proven appealing enough to attract buyers.
View Price on AmazonThe i4, which is the electric variant of the 4 Series Gran Coupe, has been BMW's best-selling electric vehicle for the past few years, even topping sales as the best-selling M model. However, this is expected to change with the upcoming rollout of the brand's Neue Klasse SUVs and sedans, the iX3 and i3. These new models are built on a bespoke EV platform, promising class-leading efficiency and range, and are set to redefine BMW's design language.
BMW's announcement of producing 2 million EVs feels less like a conclusion and more like the beginning of a new chapter. With the arrival of the two new Neue Klasse models (which will also feature long-wheelbase variants for the Chinese market), the popularity of BMW EVs is poised to grow even further. If these new models deliver on their promises, BMW's next million EVs could be produced at a significantly faster pace.
Source: insideevs.com
