Despite the near-constant criticism that the BMW i3 doesn’t have the range of, say, a Tesla Model S or Chevy Bolt, it still continues to be a success for BMW. In fact, the BMW i3 just so happens to be the best selling BEV in its class. In its premium compact BEV segment, the BMW i3 outsold the Mercedes-Benz B-Class, Renault Zoe and Volkswagen e-Golf in 2016.
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Its success is global, as well. On a global scale, the BMW i3 was the best-selling BEV in the segment last year and every 15th BEV sold was an i3. The BMW i3 accounted for 7.5 percent of all new compact BEV registrations no a global scale. But what’s impressive is that it was also the best-selling BEV in the US, as well. Every 11th compact BEV sold in America was a BMW i3 and it accounted for 11.1 percent of new BEV registrations in the US.
In Norway, the i3 was very popular in 2016. Not only was it the best selling premium BEV, the i3 was actually the best-selling BMW. It actually sold twice as much as the BMW 3 Series, which is the global sales leader for BMW everywhere else in the world. The Norwegians really like their EVs, as 70 percent of all BMWs sold there are i3s.
Overall, BMW sold 25,528 i3s worldwide and that’s pretty damn good for a car that gets criticized for not having enough range. It should also be getting better later this year, as enthusiasts will have an i3 of their own to get excited about, as there will be a performance-oriented BMW i3 to come. This will offer two pure BEV BMW i3s for customers to choose from.
That’s not really that difficult considering the limited availability of the above mentioned competition.
Availability or demand?
Availability, sales of the Mercedes and Volkswagen especially in the US are limited to states where automakers are required to sell zero emission vehicles. And we don’t have Renault available at all, the i3 is available pretty much wherever BMWs are sold. The i3 is available in more places, and isn’t restricted by its manufacturer.
So BMW have made a global commitment to new green tech & you criticize them for the competition’s lack of ambition? If availability is the issue the Bolt should be a huge success.
All I’m saying is, it’s obvious BMW would have a global lead over the Mercedes, Renault, and Volkswagen. I’m not criticizing BMW.
BMW have a global lead in premium over Mercedes, Renault and Volkswagen most or all of this century. Same old, same old…
Because they are only there to make compliance vehicle to reduce fleet MPG (in accordance to EPA regulation). They didn’t make the kind of investments BMW did. Making a completely new platform, making breakthroughs in carbon fiber (that’s used in e.g. the 7-series) and other areas, developing their own electric motor, investing in great factories, re-thinking the whole vehicle to fit well with the electric powertrain. It’s a pleasant car with a smart interior. Smart construction.
BMW profit from the i3 and have for a long time. And in addition to that they benefit from the breakthrough they made.
Look at Mercedes, VW, Nissan etc. and they don’t even come close to compare to what BMW did. BMW invested properly and is now deservingly getting paid well for it.
I just hope they haven’t lost this thinking. They should be able to do the same with a larger vehicle. BMW and Tesla, should be able to do cool stuff.
If range is the issue, why buy a BEV? It took BMW a decade to go from the 1500 to the 2002 tii (let’s not even talk about the 2002 Turbo, which begat the Turbo Concept, which begat the M1). If the i3 is the electric 2002, BMW have another 7 years coming to them. Or the next gas crisis, whichever comes first.
World wide maybe, in Europe where you can buy a Zoe, the Zoe is number one, and the i3 sits in fourth under the Model S.
http://www.eafo.eu/vehicle-statistics/m1
Aren’t they the same car? Some people have always paid a premium for BMW engineering. Same old, same old…
The Zoe and the Leaf, they share some components, but I think the Zoe is a bit smaller. The Zoe also doesn’t have Chademo but what Renault calls the Chameleon charger, and with a recent new battery the Zoe can go closer to 200 miles on one charge.
Come on, it’s almost alone in its segment and the Bolt was not available in 2016 …
The Zoé and the Leaf are clearly outselling it in their respective markets.
Taking Norway as an example is a scam, EVs are very successfull over there because of all the advantages they have (free parking, no tax, Bus priority lanes access, etc…). It is perfectly normal that they outsold the 3 series in these conditions !
The i3 is considered a failure by the management, that is why you haven’t seen other i models for a while and that the i5 has been delayed for such a long time …
It’s expensive and does not look like a BMW, if I want a small EV with limited range, I’d rather buy a cheaper Zoé or Leaf.
I’m not saying it’s a bad car, but it was not adapted to the market due to its price range.
Well, it’s still a $50,000+ car in the USA.
It’s hard to be a volume seller at that price.
Tesla seems not to have any issue selling $80000+ cars …
Surely the optional Range Extender negates the whole “doesn’t have the range” thing.
The i3 Rex is on my short-list for my next car. It seems to tick the boxes – for 90% of my everyday driving, it will run on the battery. When I need to make a long journey, I can either recharge, if that is convenient, or simply use the Range Extender.
While I would rather be 100% EV, until I can drive 200 miles to a customer and back without worrying about recharging, I’m perfectly happy to have a rarely used petrol backup.
The i3 is a great car, and selling well, but it would do a lot better if BMW’s new management was more enthusiastic about EVs, and did more to upgrade and promote the i3 (more commercials, mono-color paint & a version with two motors, etc.). It’s long been clear that BMW is no longer interested in producing new CFRP EVs. If they had been, we’d see a much bigger consumer demand for the i3 and all its sporty siblings that never saw the light of day. So sad.
100% agree with you,k they are not pushing it enough. Maybe because it would be pointless ?
The i3 sales in Norway compare to others: http://elbil.no/elbilsalget-ned-i-fjor-venter-ny-vekst-i-ar/
The i3 could have been such a nice car, like the i8, but BMW management made the wrong decisions.