BMW can’t wait: i3 orders open months early as buyers rush in

The new i3 is arriving sooner than expected. Although it wasn’t expected to go on sale until this fall, BMW has already opened orders in several markets after “high levels” of early interest.

BMW opens i3 orders early due to overwhelming 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 giving buyers early access.

A report from German auto magazine, Automobilwoche, citing sources familiar with the matter, claimed that BMW would open orders in Germany for the i3 “First Edition” as early as Thursday, June 18, 2026.

The rumors turned out to be true. BMW dealers can now order the i3 50 xDrive “First Edition” model, starting at €75,340 ($86,400) in Germany. The base model is priced from €65,900 ($75,500).

Both are equipped with a 108.7 kWh battery, providing a WLTP range of up to 566 miles (912 km). The First Edition model is rated with up to 563 miles (906 km) of range.

BMW also opened orders for the i3 50 xDrive First Edition in the UK on Thursday, starting at £57,905 ($76,500), on the road. The standard model will launch this autumn, priced from £53,005 ($70,000), OTR.

BMW’s sales boss, Jochen Goller, said, “We can already tell from the high level of interest in this model that it will be very well received by our customers.”

The First Edition i3 is based on the M Sport model, with added features including BMW’s new Iconic Glow,3D Head-Up Display, and an upgraded 22 kW AC Charging Professional.

Other standard features include a premium Harman Kardon sound system, multifunction seats, three-zone climate control, sun protection glazing, and a heated steering wheel.

“The start of orders on 18 June in First Edition form – ahead of the official market launch – is an important next step here,” he added.

The change does not impact the i3’s production schedule, the sources said, 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. The new i3 is reportedly 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 sixth-gen eDrive (Gen6) with a 108.7 kWh battery, the i3 50 xDrive has an EPA-estimated driving range of around 440 miles. Under WLTP conditions, it gets an impressive up to 566 miles (912 km) on a single charge.

With an 800V architecture, the electric sedan can regain nearly 250 miles (440 km) of range in about 10 minutes at DC fast-charging speeds up to 400 kW. 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.