A look at the production dates of the next BMW crossover generation got us thinking. These are all vehicles built in the North American market, primarily for the North American market. They represent massive profit centers for the brand and are also an interesting choice as the age of electrification arrives.
First, let’s look at the current start and finish of production for each of BMW’s rear-wheel drive crossovers (courtesy of ynguldyn at Bimmerpost):
- G45/G97 X3, iX3, X3M, Spartanburg, 24.8.-33.10
- G65/G95 X5, iX5, X5M, Spartanburg, 26.12.-33.7
- G66/G96 X6, iX6, X6M, Spartanburg, 28.04.-35.03
- G67 X7, iX7, Spartanburg, 27.8.-34.11
- G79 iXM, Spartanburg, 28.12.-35.11
The most common set of numbers that pops out is the end of the product dates. They are all right around the 2035 mark when the entire EU and UK will ban all ICE related vehicles (yes even hybrids). If BMW sold primarily in these markets, it would be an easy decision to move all future products to a 100% electric strategy. While California plans to follow the EU’s lead, the US has no national legislation banning ICE vehicles.
Could we see BMW taking the bold step on this product switch and going all-electric in mid-2035? Or maybe we need BMW to stick with this upcoming generation of crossovers and maybe even give them a facelift to continue offering an ICE product?
While we don’t have any insider knowledge on the matter yet, we believe BMW is ready to go full-on electrification and make this next generation of BMW crossovers their last ICE-powered ones. However (and this could be big) we’ve also seen how BMW can extend a product’s lifespan when needed. A case in point is the current ten-year-old F56 MINI, which will receive its third facelift and will be in service for another 7 years. We could imagine a scenario where we see the X5 and X7 continue in G65 and G67 form as ICE-only vehicles, sold alongside their full electric replacement vehicles.
One thing is clear, BMW has laid the foundations that allow them to flex more than most automakers. This flexibility in product planning will be critical as the 2035 date approaches.
