BMW confirms a compact Neue Klasse EV for Europe in 2028; iX3 passes 100,000 orders

BMW has officially confirmed that it's preparing a compact electric car, the smallest of its new Neue Klasse generation. The model will launch in 2028 and is aimed primarily at Europe. The announcement came on September 30 at BMW's Capital Market Day, its investor event in Munich.

At the same event, BMW said the new iX3 has already collected more than 100,000 orders in Europe. The iX3 is built in Debrecen, Hungary, close to the Romanian border.

What BMW confirmed about the compact EV

Not much, for now. In its official press release, BMW only says that in 2028 it will strengthen its presence in the high-volume entry segment with another fully electric Neue Klasse model, with a focus on Europe. The platform and its technologies debuted with the iX3, continued with the new i3 and are now reaching the upper segments with the X5 and 7 Series. The next step, BMW says, is for compact models to benefit as well.

The company links the new model to its fully electric MINI range and to its goal of cutting the CO₂ emissions of its entire EU fleet.

The speculation: BMW i1

The name isn't confirmed. BMW-focused outlets, however, report that the car could be the BMW i1, with the internal code name NB0. electrive cites the German blog Bimmer Today for this, while BMWBLOG says insiders have confirmed the NB0 code and a five-door hatchback body to it.

Also according to BMWBLOG, which presents these as its own expectations rather than official data:

• the i1 could be rear-wheel drive, unlike the current petrol 1 Series, which is front-wheel drive;
• it would sit between the electric MINI Cooper and the iX1/iX2;
• it wouldn't immediately replace the 1 Series, which is said to stay in production until the early 2030s;
• a sedan version, a possible i2, could follow.

electrive also reports, based on BMW's presentation at the event, that BMW will unveil the iX4, an electric SUV coupé derived from the iX3, before the end of this year. It's also likely to be built in Debrecen.

iX3: orders into spring 2027

For BMW, the iX3 is proof that the Neue Klasse strategy works. On top of the more than 100,000 orders in Europe, electrive reports that over 30,000 cars have already been delivered, and that orders cover production well into the second quarter of 2027. In other words, if you order one now, don't expect it soon. BMW also says that in key markets the iX3 already delivers the same profit margin as its combustion models.

The iX3 was the first Neue Klasse model to enter series production. The Debrecen plant started building it in late October 2025 and reached its 50,000th car, the one in the photo above, in July 2026. The plant makes its own sixth-generation high-voltage batteries on site.

What's leaving the lineup

The plan also has a less welcome side for some customers. BMW wants fewer model variants in order to be more profitable, and the first official example is the 2 Series Active Tourer, which won't get a successor. The compact MPV has been a popular family choice, including as a plug-in hybrid.

The rest of the announcements are mostly strategic: an SUV above the X7 aimed at the US, more local production in China, the first model from the new BMW ALPINA brand next year, and 20% fewer divisions and management roles by mid-2027. BMW wants to get back to an 8–10% operating margin in its automotive division by the start of the next decade, with an interim target of 3–5% in 2028.

What it means for drivers

For buyers in Romania and across Europe, the good news is that BMW is preparing a smaller and probably more affordable EV than the iX1, at a time when Neue Klasse technology has impressed in the iX3: up to 805 km of WLTP range and 15.1–18.1 kWh/100 km, according to BMW. The less good news: it's still two years away, and the compact model's price and range are unknown. In the meantime, if you want an iX3 now, the waiting list is long. The fact that it's built in Debrecen, a short drive from Oradea, won't shorten the queue, but it's a sign that the next generation of European car manufacturing is moving ever closer to us.