Debrecen, Hungary – March 2026 | Whoever said that the era of electric cars has entered a shadow cone probably hasn't passed by the BMW plant in Debrecen recently. The Bavarian manufacturer has hit the "jackpot" with the new iX3, the first model in the revolutionary Neue Klasse range, already registering over 50,000 firm orders. The performance is all the more impressive as deliveries in Europe have only recently started.
The commercial success has forced BMW CEO Oliver Zipse to step up production, too. He recently announced the introduction of a second shift at the Debrecen plant, a decision taken much earlier than originally planned.
"Demand has significantly exceeded our most optimistic expectations. Many customers have ordered the car without even testing it, relying on the promise of the new architecture," Zipse said at a recent conference.
Although the plant has a maximum capacity of 150,000 units per year, BMW is already preparing to expand production globally. From 2027, the iX3 will also be assembled at the San Luis Potosí (Mexico) plant for the US market, as well as in Shenyang (China), where a long wheelbase (LWB) version will be produced, adapted to local preferences.
Currently, customers can opt for only one configuration, but an extremely capable one: the iX3 50 xDrive. Here's what BMW is bringing to the table:
Power: 469 hp (345 kW) delivered by two electric motors.
Drivetrain: Intelligent all-wheel drive (xDrive).
Battery: A massive 108 kWh unit (6th generation cylindrical cells).
Range: Up to an astonishing 805 km (WLTP), virtually eliminating “range anxiety”.
Charging: 800V architecture allowing recovery of over 300 km in just 10 minutes at ultra-fast stations.
If the iX3 50 xDrive seems too much for you or you want something even more aggressive, there's good news. BMW is preparing to expand the range in the second half of 2026:
Entry-level version (iX3 40): Probably with a single engine (rear-wheel drive) and a more affordable price.
Top Version (M): A variant focused on raw performance, which will test the limits of the new platform.
This first stage of the Neue Klasse demonstrates that BMW has not only regained ground against its rivals, but has managed to create a product that sells almost "alone", transforming the plant on the Romanian border into a strategic point on the world automotive map.