BMW will sell its battery powered i3 electric car starting at 34,950 euros ($45,900) when it goes on sale in Germany in November, the carmaker said Tuesday.
The four-seater hatchback will be revealed at unveiling events in London, New York and Beijing on July 29, the company said. Its Korean launch is scheduled for May next year.
The i3 is built on an entirely unique platform, a combination of aluminum and carbon fiber reinforced plastic produced at a plant in Washington to achieve a lighter weight.
The car is expected to go from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in less than 8 seconds. Its top speed will be limited to 150 kilometers per hour.
The fully-charged lithium-ion battery can deliver an all-electric range of 160 kilometers. For customers who want to go on longer trips, BMW will offer a hybrid version equipped with an optional extender that increases the range to 320 kilometers.
With the lower-than-expected price, BMW aims to secure an edge in competition against the likes of the $35,995 Ford Focus Electric, $29,650 Nissan Leaf and $71,070 Tesla Model S.
By Lee Ji-yoon (
jylee@heraldcorp.com)
![[From the Scene] At this Starbucks, you need ID: Franchise opens store with view of North Korea](http://res.heraldm.com/phpwas/restmb_idxmake.php?idx=644&simg=/content/image/2024/11/29/20241129050068_0.jpg)
