The EV Struggle Is Real
BMW had a tough year of selling EVs in the United States in 2025. Pure EV sales in 2025 dipped by 16.7% compared to 2024, with the largest drop in Q4 of 2025, falling 45.5%.
While BMW isn’t the only brand to be hit by slow EV sales, it’s eager to regroup. However, the first quarter of 2026 is proving that it’s tougher than it seems, EV sales are down 50% comapred to Q1 2025. Moves are being made, and one significant change is coming.
BMW
Shifting Strategies
BMWBlog was able to get an exclusive insight into a major change to BMW U.S. EV plans moving forward. BMW confirmed to the publication that the iX, considered the brand’s flagship EV SUV, will be discontinued in the American market. This will end the iX’s 5-year run in America, and marks the shift of the current BMW EVs into the Neue Klasse models. However, the iX will continue to be sold elsewhere in the world until 2027.
The exclusive quote from the BMW executive highlights their pride in what they achieved in the U.S. with the iX. It served as a technological showcase for the brand, allowing them to push the boundaries of design, manufacturing, and sustainability. The executive also acknowledged that market dynamics led to this decision to transition to the new generation of BMW EVs under Neue Klasse.
Furthermore, the brand executive also reaffirmed BMW’s commitment to the U.S. market through the next phase of their EV push. Through Neue Klasse, the iX3 will usher in the new generation of EVs powered by the Gen6 eDrive Technology. The iX3 is just the jumping-off point, with future Neue Klasse cars coming.
BMW China
Neue Klasse Rising
BMW’s Neue Klasse line is dubbed a complete reboot of the brand’s EV philosophy and push. Taking into account the changes in preferences when it comes to what people want from electric mobility. Headlining this new class of cars is the recently announced iX3, which will be the first model introduced under this reboot.
The iX3 is a mid-sized SUV that debuts the new Gen6 battery technology, enabling a full range of 497 miles (WLTP), with faster charging capabilities as well. U.S. arrivals of the iX3 are expected sometime in Q3 of 2026, followed by the first-ever BMW iX5 SUV.
Earl Lee/Autoblog
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