BMW i3 & i8 EV range won’t be extended any time soon

Despite rumours of a BMW i5 EV to extend the new BMW i range, BMW say there are no plans to extend the range in the near future.

BMW have ploughed a chunk of money in to the development of the BMW i3 electric city car and the BMW i8 supercar, but it seems that is going to be the extent of the BMW i range, for now at least.

BMW’s head of production, Harald Krueger, has told Automotive News that there will be no further i models until BMW has a better idea of demand for their i cars.

So far, the demand looks very positive for BMW, with over 11,000 i3 EVs sold already which has led to a six month waiting list for BMW buyers looking for an electric city runaround.

Soon to come is the BMW i8 supercar – which will cost £100k and launch in the UK in July – and it looks like the first year’s production of the i8 is sold out.

But BMW seem to be being very cautious and want to see if the initial demand for their new EVs is sustainable before they leap in with an extension of the range.

When  BMW do extend the EV range of i cars – assuming demand proves to be sustainable – the first cars are likely to be the 14 – a sporty take on the i3 – and the i5 – a proper sized saloon car with a variation of the powerplant from the i8.

But with BMW having trademarked all the ‘i’ variations from i1 to i9, it’s clear there are hopes that the i range will eventually be a comprehensive one.

But, it seems, not for some time yet.