After the world premiere of the electric SUV at the IAA Mobility Show, BMW has opened the order books for the new iX3. It’s been exactly two months since the first modern New Class broke cover, and orders are already pouring in. In Europe alone, they already extend several months into 2026. CEO Oliver Zipse shared the tidbit during the third-quarter earnings call.
The BMW official is pleased to report that the feedback following the debut of the iX3 was nothing short of “tremendous.” This enthusiasm came not only from visitors to the IAA mobility trade fair in Munich in September, but also from “fans from all over the world, media, analysts and political actors”.
The iX3 has attracted more orders than BMW expected, which is a good start given the company’s significant investment in the Neue Klasse. More than 10 billion euros have flowed into batteries, electric motors, iDrive X and everything else that makes up the new class. Seeing the “NA5” already gaining momentum is an encouraging sign.
It’s also worth mentioning that BMW currently only sells the iX3 in one version, the 50 xDrive. Some buyers are likely waiting for cheaper trim levels, like the previously announced 40 xDrive and 40 sDrive. At the other end of the range, a real M model was recently spotted testing, which will likely be joined by an M Performance variant (M60) to close the gap on the regular models.
Europeans will be the first to get the iX3 when deliveries begin next spring. The USA will have to wait until summer. Both regions will receive vehicles that were built in the Hungarian Debrecen factory, where series production started a few days ago. In 2026, BMW will also begin building a long-wheelbase version for China at its Shenyang plant, followed a year later by production at its San Luis Potosí plant in Mexico. The latter will likely produce the standard wheelbase model.
The iX3 doesn’t come alone. The iX4 was spotted for the first time yesterday and is expected to launch next year with a dramatically sloping roofline. In addition to the conventionally shaped model, the “NA7” is expected to be manufactured in Debrecen. True to BMW’s playbook, it will likely cost a little more than its sibling. The iX3 should sell significantly better, but Munich expects there to be enough demand to justify producing the coupe variant.
