BMW’s iX3 Defies Expectations, Racks Up 50,000 Orders Without Test Drives

It turns out that making an EV with plenty of range, fast charging, and a fair price will attract a lot of buyers.

2026 BMW iX3

Photo by: BMW

Iulian Dnistran

By: Iulian Dnistran

Mar 16, at 3:49am ET

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Over 50,000 people have ordered the new BMW iX3 without even sitting in it.
The Neue Klasse-based SUV went on sale in Europe in early September.
BMW recently added a second shift at its Hungarian plant to meet demand.

The new BMW iX3 is proving quite the success story, even though European deliveries have only recently begun. Unveiled back in September, BMW’s first Neue Klasse-based electric car has already racked up over 50,000 orders in Europe, the company revealed at its annual conference last week, BMW Blog reported.

This is the first time that the German automaker has published order figures for its 800-volt electric SUV. Previously, the Bavarian marque’s CEO, Oliver Zipse, said that demand “significantly exceeded expectations,” and that a second shift was added at the new factory in Debrecen, Hungary, ahead of schedule, to keep up with demand.

It’s worth noting that the vast majority of iX3 customers ordered the EV without actually sitting in it. Series production kicked off in late October 2025, but deliveries have only recently started, so even dealerships didn’t have test vehicles on the floor. What’s more, these are not refundable pre-orders, but concrete orders with delivery dates.

Zipse said the iX3 order books are “full and reach well into this year,” but there’s still room for more. BMW’s new factory in Debrecen has a maximum output of 150,000 EVs per year when fully operational. That said, expanding production ahead of schedule is not as easy as it sounds.

Right now, the iX3 accounts for a third of all BMW EVs sold in Europe, despite being available in a single version, the iX3 50 xDrive. A more affordable 40 version will join the lineup by the end of the year, with both single- and dual-motor configurations expected. Even so, grabbing a big piece of the market with a single powertrain setup is proof that offering a comprehensive, long-range, fast-charging EV will attract buyers.

2026 BMW iX3

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2026 BMW iX3

Source: BMW

In the United States, the iX3 will go on sale this summer, where the 50 xDrive version is expected to offer an EPA-rated range of 400 miles. Coupled with a 400-kilowatt maximum charging power, a 10-to-80% top-up in 21 minutes, and a starting price of around $60,000, we’re talking about a serious contender in an increasingly crowded space.

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The new Mercedes-Benz GLC, Volvo EX60 and Rivian R2 compete for much of the same public, not to mention well-known models like the Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Chevrolet Blazer EV.

The American-spec 2027 BMW iX3 will be exported from Hungary at first, but the German automaker is expected to start churning out cars for the North American market at its San Luis Potosi plant in Mexico next year.