BMW will open i3 orders this week, months ahead of schedule, as demand takes off

The new i3 was set to go on sale this fall, but BMW will open them months ahead of schedule because demand is so strong.

BMW opens i3 orders early due to strong demand

If you were waiting for the new BMW i3, you might be in luck. Although BMW said it would go on sale later this year, it’s reportedly now planning to open orders as soon as this week.

A new report from German auto magazine, Automobilwoche, citing sources familiar with the matter, says BMW is opening orders in Germany for the i3 “First Edition” as early as Thursday, June 18, 2026.

The change does not impact the i3’s production schedule, the report stated, which is still scheduled to begin in August.

It’s not just in its home market that BMW has received strong interest in the electric sedan. According to the report, the i3 is generating strong buzz in China too, where BMW, like nearly every legacy OEM, has quickly fallen out of favor with domestic brands.

The i3 is BMW’s second Neue Klasse model, following the iX3 SUV. Based on its its sixth-gen eDrive (Gen6) with an 800-volt electric architecture, the i3 50 xDrive has an EPA-estimated driving range of around 440 miles. Under WLTP conditions, it gets an impressive up to 559 miles (900 km) on a single charge.

With up to 400 kW DC fast charging, the electric sedan can regain nearly 250 miles (440 km) of range in about 10 minutes. In the US, the i3 will include a built-in NACS port.

Like the iX3, the i3 features BMW Neue Klasse cabin setup with a massive 43″ Panoramic Vision display spanning the base of the windshield and a 17.9″ floating central infotainment display.

BMW is set to begin production of the i3 at its Munich plant this summer, with deliveries still scheduled for this fall.

Prices have yet to be revealed, but given the iX3 50 xDrive is available to order starting at $61,500, the new i3 will likely start at about $50,000 to $55,000.

BMW is expected to add an entry-level single-motor variant to the lineup, like the recently launched iX3 40.

The BMW iX3 40 starts at just €63,400 ($73,000) in Germany with a WLTP range of 628 km (390 miles), which is even cheaper than the X3 plug-in hybrid (€66,900). In China, it will also launch the i3 Long Wheelbase.

The iX3 is already off to a strong start. After BMW’s former CEO, Oliver Zipse, told investors that the iX3 received over 50,000 orders in March, new sales data show it was the top-selling EV in its segment, with over 10,000 units sold through April, a month after deliveries began.

Will the i3 have the same impact? So far, it seems to be generating quite a bit of buzz. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.