BMW i3 production begins with near-series test vehicles at Munich plant

On February 4, BMW announced that BMW i3 production reached a major milestone at its Munich plant with the start of near-series test vehicle manufacturing. This step signals entry into the final preparation phase ahead of series production planned for the second half of 2026.

BMW i3 production enters final industrial validation phase

The Munich facility is now operating under real production conditions, allowing teams to evaluate end-to-end processes. Vehicles are moving through every manufacturing stage on site, providing practical insights into readiness, efficiency, and coordination across departments involved in BMW i3 production.

Manufacturing and logistics tested under real conditions

The validation phase covers the full industrial setup, including:

• Modern press shop operations

• Newly developed body shop processes

• Paint shop quality and consistency checks

• New assembly areas configured for electric vehicles

• Integrated logistics systems supporting material flow

Process refinement ahead of series production

All components are delivered through planned material flows and installed directly on the production line. Each part and production step is closely inspected to ensure accuracy and repeatability. In the coming months, BMW will refine workflows using insights gathered from these near-series vehicles to stabilize BMW i3 production for large-scale manufacturing in 2026.