BMW Will Launch Series-1 EV Version, Ready To Challenge VW ID.3

BMW Series-1 at this time. (Doc. BMW Group)

JAKARTA - BMW is one of a number of automotive brands that wants to increase the number of electric vehicles in Indonesia.

Offering models such as iX1, i4, i5, i7, to iX, the German manufacturer does not yet have an entry-level version of the EV model. Realizing this, of course BMW will soon launch a more affordable electric vehicle called i1.

BMW Brand and Product Management Senior Vice President, Bernd Koerber said the company would enter a lower market so that it could complement the brand's EV segment.

"There are many relevant markets for this segment, for example Greece, Spain, and Italy where Series-1 is the market contributor there," Bernd was quoted as saying by Auto Express, Friday, April 25.

He also said that the entry-level market like Series-1 is one of the most important because it can attract young people to own vehicles.

"The second thing is that it is very important for the brand, because what you see in Series-1 is that you have the highest young driver share," he added.

It is possible that i1, or another name from the electric version of Series-1, will be present following in the footsteps of i3 which will carry a base from Neue Classe next year.

Neue Classe has been flexibly designed for pure hybrid and EV engine vehicles so that it can save development and production costs to design more model lines.

The upcoming series-1 is expected to follow the naming of 120, 123, and M135 versions of gasoline to divide the variants that will be available. For plug-in hybrid (PHEV) types, it is not impossible that BMW will use the 'e' letters behind its name.

Meanwhile, the electricity version of Series-1 will use the i1 name in line with today's BMW electric vehicle lineup.

It is estimated that the latest generation Series-1 will come between 2027 and 2028, or when the present model enters the age of about five years.

Because it will use the basis of the Neue Classe concept, the latest Series-1 or i1 will have many similarities with the upcoming Series-3 generation or i3 but in the form of a typical urban hatchback.

All Neue Classe-based electric cars will have voltages of up to 800V, allowing them to have a faster charging system and can accommodate battery sizes with better distance.

It is possible that i1 will have a battery capable of providing a distance of up to 300 miles or the equivalent of 482 km in one sentence.

This means that this car can compete with other premium entry-level models such as the latest Mercedes-Benz CLA, even Volkswagen ID.3.