It seems like I’ve written this story just a few occasions. Properly, perhaps I’ve, as a result of BMW’s unique “i” vehicles are refusing to die. Tucked away within the firm’s quarterly assertion is a shocking announcement: the i3 and i8 are nonetheless showing within the gross sales charts, years after being discontinued.
Two have been offered by March, although, per BMW’s irritating modus operandi, i3/i8 gross sales are bundled. It doesn’t even matter whether or not each have been i3s, i8s, or one in every of every. We stay amazed by how a lot unsold inventory was left after manufacturing ended. Whereas the i3 identify lived on after the quirky hatchback was discontinued, gross sales of China’s long-wheelbase i3 sedan are lumped along with 3 Collection Sedan figures.
BMW assembled the ultimate i3 hatchback in mid-2022 after nine years of production and roughly 250,000 models constructed. The i8 is even older, having exited the lineup in mid-2020 after 20,465 plug-in hybrids produced in six years. Most i8s have been coupes (16,581), whereas the roadster made up the remaining 3,884 models.
The “i” duo was completely manufactured at BMW’s Leipzig plant in Germany. It’s possible you’ll recall that the i3 additionally had a combustion engine. It was a two-cylinder unit borrowed from one in every of BMW’s scooters and repurposed as a variety extender. It didn’t energy the wheels, as a substitute performing as a generator to recharge the battery for a setup that’s seeing a resurgence these days.
Presently, the BMW Group is closely counting on standard plug-in hybrids. Within the first quarter of the 12 months, PHEV gross sales jumped by a powerful 25% to 47,935 models. Totally electrical automobiles carried out even higher, with 86,440 models offered, or a rise of 9.9% over Q1 2024.
We’ll be watching the gross sales charts all year long to see if the i3 and i8 make one other look. Enjoyable truth: the duo accounted for 36 gross sales in 2024, down from 755 the earlier 12 months.
Supply: BMW
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