The electric SUV goes through the latest stages of development in South Africa, as well as the closely linked sedan.
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- The brand new BMW IX3 will make its debut at IAA Mobility in Munich and will come into production at the end of 2025.
- More than 40 new and updated BMW models will take place until 2027, with Neue Klasse Style and Tech.
- BMW’s profits dropped by 37% in 2024 due to the increase in R&D and slow costs demand in China.
The BMW Group annual conference for 2025 has brought interesting updates to the company’s future program. The most notable announcement is that BMW officially confirmed the name of its very first Neue Klasse SUV in IX3 and that it will make its debut at IAA mobility in Munich in early September 2025. This will be the first model to climb on the highly anticipated architecture of Neue Klasse.
The company also announced that the fully electric SUV will be joined by more than 40 new models or lifts.
Plus: 2026 BMW IX3 Neue Klasse grants patents in reality
Oliver Zipse, president of BMW, described the 2025 “significant year” for the company, despite the “volatile world conditions”. The deployment of the Neue Klasse project is a key factor behind this optimism, starting with the new generation IX3, which Zipse described as “a typical X model, and a BMW from start to finish.”
The production version of the Vision Neue Klasse X concept between its latest development stages in South Africa, alongside a closely linked electric sedan, which should adopt the I3 signage plate. The pre-production prototypes of the IX3 have exceeded the new Debrecen factory in Hungary since the end of last year. Although the body remains under camouflage, the drawings and the patent renderings have already given us an overview of its design.
BMW group
The series production of the BMW IX3 will start in Debrecen at the end of 2025, after its world debut in Munich in early September. A new “sports sedan”, also based on architecture Neue Klasse, will follow in 2026, positioned as a fully electric counterpart of the BMW 3 Series. Although its name has not yet been confirmed, it should be called the I3, following the denomination agreement established by the I5 / i7 and 7 series.
Zipse noted that Neue Klasse models will introduce improvements into driving dynamics, transmission technology, battery progress, operating concepts and digitization, while presenting a new design language that has “jumped a generation”. He also confirmed that “whatever the driving technology, all future BMW models will benefit from Neue Klasse technologies – and, of course, the new design language”.
Plus: BMW 800V Neue Klasse EV Invoice 30% more quickly, could offer more than 500 miles of reach
Among the strong moments of the Neue Klasse models, the BMW Panoramic Idrive interface with a customizable pillar display, the EDRIVE BMW Motopropulser Group of sixth generation and high -voltage batteries with 800 technological volts, and a new brand electronic architecture with four high performance computers controlling vehicle functions.
In terms of driving performance and dynamics, Zipse mentioned the prototype of the experience of conducting vision as a sign of things to come. He said that it is “the most powerful development prototype that BMW has ever built”, adding that it “pushes the driving dynamics to its physical limits”. The presentation included a video with enthusiastic reactions of BMW staff with the prototype tests focused on the performance that will eventually create the Hot ship of the Neue Klasse sedan.
Large investments have led to a drop in profits
In 2024, BMW reached the “advanced levels of R&D and capital expenses”, largely due to the development of Neue Klasse models. This investment of 18 billion euros ($ 19.6 billion), in combination with the “demand for persistent moderation in China” and the problems with the “integrated braking system (IBS)” supplied to the financial results of the automaker. More specifically, BMW Group’s net profit in 2024 was reduced to 7.68 billion euros (8.37 billion dollars), marking a drop of 36.9% compared to the previous year.
The BMW group (including BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce) sold a total of 2,450,854 vehicles in 2024, 4%compared to 2023. However, sales of electrified models increased to 593,150 units (+ 4.8%), including 426,536 BEV (+ 13.5%). This means that the BEV represented 17.4% of the group’s total sales volume last year, compared to 14.7% in 2023.
Plus: 2025 starts with a 30% increase in world sales of electric vehicles and PHEV
For the future, Zipse expects sales of the BMW group to increase in 2025, with a planned reduction in capital expenses to increase cash flows. The company aims to maintain its levels of profit from 2024, despite the increase in prices.
Below, you can watch all the presentation that was broadcast live earlier during the day on YouTube.
