- BMW’s Neue Klasse iX3 achieved a 1,030.2-km no-charge run, arriving with 5% battery left.
- The iX3 50L uses an 800V, sixth-gen module-free cell-to-pack battery with high-nickel Series 9 cells.
- BMW will open iX3 reservations at Chengdu on Aug. 21 as China sales pressure mounts.
The BMW Neue Klasse iX3 will open for reservations at the Chengdu Auto Show on Aug. 21, following an internal road-range test conducted by BMW China.
A BMW engineer drove an iX3 50L xDrive from the automaker’s production base in Shenyang to its R&D center in Beijing.
He completed a 1,030.2-km drive without recharging and arrived at the destination with 5% battery remaining.
BMW said the result set a new range record for its battery-electric models.
Previously, the Neue Klasse iX3 completed an 805-km road test around Qinghai Lake under real-world driving conditions.
The 1,030.2-km figure was achieved in an internal extreme-range road test and should not be interpreted as the range drivers can expect in everyday use.
The BMW iX3 50L has an official CLTC range of 919 km. Exceeding that figure in the latest test was not simply a result of a larger battery.
Instead, it is a comprehensive testament to BMW’s next-generation battery, electric-drive and energy-management systems.
The new model uses BMW’s sixth-generation high-voltage battery system on an 800V architecture and, for the first time in a BMW model mass-produced for China, adopts large cylindrical cells.
The battery uses a module-free cell-to-pack design, integrating cells directly into the battery-pack housing to reduce structural redundancy and improve space utilization.
The cells use a high-nickel Series 9 chemistry, with energy density about 20% higher than the prismatic cells used in the previous-generation BMW eDrive system.
The technology package represents an important step in BMW’s response to changes in China’s NEV market.
BMW’s pressure in China has shown little sign of easing over the past year. In the first half of 2026, BMW Group sales in China fell 20.4% year over year to 262,000 vehicles.
As Chinese automakers continue to expand their product offerings in the NEV market, traditional advantages held by luxury brands in pricing and brand positioning are also coming under greater pressure.
BMW has also cut the list prices of some models, while the effective purchase price of the BMW 5 Series has fallen to as low as RMB 280,000 ($41,500).
As the first model from BMW’s New Class platform introduced for the Chinese market, the Neue Klasse iX3 will also be an important test of the competitiveness of BMW’s upcoming battery-electric lineup.
During the Chengdu Auto Show, BMW is expected to disclose the iX3’s detailed specifications, reservation terms and technologies developed specifically for the Chinese market.
Meanwhile, the 2027 BMW X3 will make its China debut at the show and is scheduled to begin deliveries in September.
Other models, including the BMW M3 40th Anniversary Limited Edition, will also be unveiled at the event.
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