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BMW and MINI Electric Share Hits 20% in Q3 2026
BMW Plans Entry-Level Electric i1 Hatchback for Europe by 2028
BMW has reaffirmed its plan to launch its most affordable fully electric vehicle by 2028. According to insiders, the newcomer will feature rear-wheel drive, a notable departure from the current front-wheel-drive 1 Series models.
By Charlotte Redford · 2 min read
BMW has confirmed its intention to launch an entry-level fully electric vehicle by 2028. This was announced at the September Capital Market Day and repeated during the discussion of quarterly results. The commitment was voiced by CEO Milan Nedeljković. The vehicle concerned is a compact model with the working code NB0, which is expected to be marketed as the i1.
According to available information, the i1 will be a five-door hatchback aimed primarily at the European market. The key difference from the current entry-level models is a return to rear-wheel drive. Currently, BMW's smallest model, the 1 Series, has a front-wheel-drive layout. Production of the current F70 generation is expected to continue into the early 2030s, so both lines will exist in parallel for some time.
Insiders expect five versions: the i1 20, i1 30, i1 30 xDrive, i1 40 and i1 M50 xDrive. Two versions will get all-wheel drive with two electric motors. The M50 xDrive version belongs to the M Performance lineup. It is assumed the newcomer will use the 800-volt architecture and the sixth-generation eDrive electric drive system used in the iX3 and i3. The battery is likely to be smaller than that of the i3, so the range will probably be below the 710 km WLTP cycle figure quoted for the i3 40 xDrive.
BMW has not yet published official data on power output or charging. The estimate of charging at around 300 kW remains speculative. The interior is expected to replicate the Neue Klasse layout with panoramic iDrive. No photographs of a prototype have been released, so its appearance, beyond the hatchback shape, is unknown. Production is expected to start in spring 2028, but the plant and price have not been confirmed.
In terms of positioning, the i1 will sit between the electric MINI Cooper and the iX1 and iX2 models. Information on possible availability in the United States has not been confirmed. The more likely American candidate is said to be the NB8 model, also known as the i2.
Source: bmwblog.com
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