During the media launch of the new BMW iX3 in Sotogrande, Spain, an unexpected topic kept cropping up in every conversation with engineers and journalists: dog mode. No range, no charging speed, no chassis tuning – dog mode. It’s one of those small, emotion-filled features that electric vehicle owners in the US have come to consider essential. Tesla has it. Rivian has it. Hyundai and Kia also have their versions. And BMW knows American buyers are asking for it.
But BMW’s statement at the event was clear: the iX3 doesn’t have a dedicated dog mode, but that doesn’t mean things won’t change in the future.
Why people care about dog mode
Here’s a simple scenario: The car’s air conditioning suddenly stops working while a pet is inside. The cabin temperature could rise within a few minutes. Since Dog Mode is active, the system immediately begins sending critical alerts every minute. Let’s say the owner is stuck in a meeting without their phone, but someone else connected to the car sees the alerts and can now open the camera feed inside and see that the pet is in trouble. Now they can remotely roll down the windows, alert the police, unlock the car and get the dog out safely.
That’s the kind of situation that makes people ask every automaker, including BMW, whether they offer similar protection.
How does BMW approach this?
BMW’s approach is different. There is no dog mode per se; instead, the iX3 distributes its safety net across several systems. You can now set the interior temperature remotely via the My BMW app and the vehicle will heat or cool the interior for up to 30 minutes. You can also open the app and see a live feed from the car’s interior camera. This is especially useful if you’ve left something – or someone – inside for a quick errand. During the press conference in Sotogrande, BMW confirmed that this camera access is a key part of its remote monitoring strategy.
The bigger surprise came when BMW explained how the iX3’s occupant detection system actually works. It’s not just looking for children. The sensors are designed to detect any living creature – a pet, a child, or even an adult who may still be inside after the driver leaves.
When the system detects that someone is still there, the car sends a notification to the driver’s phone. If nothing happens, it escalates with the horn sounding and lights flashing to attract the attention of people nearby. And if still no one answers, the iX3 takes matters into its own hands. It automatically turns on the air conditioning and sets the temperature to 21 degrees Celsius – about 70 degrees Fahrenheit – to stabilize the interior and prevent heat buildup.
BMW hasn’t advertised this system much, but in Sotogrande it became clear that the iX3 already has some kind of built-in emergency logic that activates even if the driver can’t. Is it the same as Dog Mode or Pet Comfort? Not quite, but it’s a good step towards a full dog mode.
So why not just add dog mode?
BMW’s explanation is largely rooted in global behavior. The demand for dog fashion is extremely high in the United States but is lower in other countries. Could they revisit this in the future? This is a possibility considering the technology is already in the car. As far as we know, without a large visual message on the infotainment screen or a button that says “Pet Mode,” the iX3 doesn’t ignore the underlying safety issue. BMW simply chose to treat it as a cabin safety issue rather than a pet-specific feature.
[Pet Comfort Mode image provided by riviantrackr.com]
