Almost exactly three years after the European launch of the i3 electric car in November 2013, BMW has reached a notable milestone in its electrification efforts.
The German automaker says it has delivered 100,000 plug-in cars over the past three years.
That figure encompasses both battery-electric cars and plug-in hybrids.
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The i3 is the only all-electric car BMW currently sells. Along with the range-extended REx variant, it accounted for about 60,000 of those sales.
Along with those two models, BMW sells the i8 plug-in hybrid coupe, and plug-in hybrid versions of numerous other models.
These include “i Performance” variants of the 3-Series and 7-Series sedan, as well as the X5 SUV.
2017 BMW i8
BMW recently began adding the “i Performance” tag to plug-in hybrids based on existing models in order to tie them closer to the i3 and i8, both of which are based on dedicated platforms.
The above plug-in hybrid models are all available in the U.S., but BMW also offers models that are specific to other markets.
It sells a plug-in hybrid version of the 2 Series Active Tourer in Europe, called the 225xe Active Tourer.
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Not to be confused with the rear-wheel drive 2-Series coupe and convertible sold in the U.S., Active Tourer models are based on the front-wheel-drive UKL platform used for the latest generation of Mini models as well.
The 225xe Active Tourer will see its powertrain used in the Mini Cooper Countryman S E ALL4 plug-in hybrid that launches in the U.S. next year.
At the 2016 Chengdu Motor Show, BMW also unveiled a plug-in hybrid version of the X1 crossover, which will be sold only in China.
2017 BMW 530e iPerformance
But the company has even more plug-in hybrids and battery-electric cars planned for global markets.
The first to arrive this coming year will be the 530e iPerformance, a plug-in hybrid version of the newly-redesigned 5-Series midsize luxury sedan, followed by the Mini Countryman plug-in hybrid.
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In 2018, BMW will launch the i8 Roadster, a long-awaited convertible version of the i8.
The Roadster’s launch is expected to coincide with an extensive mid-cycle refresh of the i8 that may involve an increase in its electric range using a higher-capacity battery within the same form factor.
2017 Mini Countryman
Following that, an all-electric Mini model will launch in 2019, followed by an all-electric version of the X3 in 2020.
Even further into the future, BMW promises an electric flagship luxury sedan, codenamed “iNext.”
While the carmaker did not confirm it along with these other plans, BMW is also expected to debut an extended-range electric crossover, likely called the i5, in 2018.
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