BMW will build a 5 Series EV, with 25 electrified models by 2023
As part of its aim to continue lowering vehicle emissions, BMW announced that it will offer fully-electric versions of the 5 Series sedan and the X1 compact crossover, according to reports from Reuters and Automotive News.
The changes come amidst pressure to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from cars by as much as 37.5 percent by 2030, when measured against the output levels in 2021. As the calendar rolls over into 2021, BMW plans to have five all-electric models: the BMW i3, the Mini Cooper SE, the BMW iX3, the BMW iNext, and the BMW i4. BMW says it will have 25 electrified models on the road by 2023. While the announcement cites emissions targets mandated by European lawmakers, it’s safe to expect the full-EV versions of both the 5 Series and the X1 to make their way to the U.S. market, along with the other forthcoming BMW EVs.
The current-generation 5 Series received a facelift earlier this year, and one of the key talking points for the changes was the introduction of a 48-volt mild-hybrid system on the 540i and 540i xDrive variants. The next-gen 5 Series is scheduled for launch sometime in 2023, although BMW CEO Oliver Zipse declined to give specific launch dates for the full-EV version. Ditto the all-electric X1.
As recently as early June, rumors began circulating that every version of the next-gen M5 super sedan would be at least partly electrified. If that’s anything to go on, BMW considering electron-powered super sedans should show you how serious the Munich-based brand is about its electric future.
