BMW Concerned About Quality Issues With New i3 EV

Despite a massive and expensive advertising campaign, not to mention the reported $2 billion cost of developing it, BMW’s new little i3 electric car is not exactly storming up the sales charts.

Experts say this is because BMW is nervous about the new technology involved in the i3, and is deliberately keeping production slow until it is confident it won’t be embarrassed by a recall induced by any failures.

News the i3 flunked a European safety test can’t have helped either. In a test in November the i3 performed poorly in pedestrian protection, and safety assistance systems, scoring four out of a possible five stars overall. Even cheap new models in Europe now regularly score five out of five in the EuroNCAP tests.

Read Article

GermanNut - 12/20/2013 4:14:45 PM

+1 Boost

What a great strategy. Launch a groundbreakig electric "city" car first and then wait nervously for any recalls.

JDMUSMuscle - 12/21/2013 4:11:32 AM

0 Boost

I know what you mean. That is how the European automakers try to sell their overrated junk.

The Europeans seriously need to learn one or two from the Japanese and us Americans.

MattDarringer - 12/20/2013 5:15:06 PM

0 Boost

Making it disgustingly ugly was moronic. How could it fail a crash test??? How is that remotely possible for BMW? Was BMW asleep at the wheel? Is this just a Mini with batteries bolted in and not enough engineering???

JDMUSMuscle - 12/21/2013 4:10:25 AM

+1 Boost

BMW usually fails a lot of crash tests and they are as reliable as Chrysler, or far worse (Every European car is, in fact), but many of those who have been duped by the mainstream media will keep buying their overrated, overpriced junk anyway.

JRobUSC - 12/21/2013 7:15:40 AM

+5 Boost

It didn't "flunk a crash test", it actually received excellent scores for occupant protection. The rating was downgraded because some warning features are optional.

"But without many of the features now considered standard in many premium cars — like seat belt warning bells for rear-seat passengers and standard-fit speed limiter — meant that the i3 was awarded just 55 percent for its safety assist technology."

amgs65 - 12/23/2013 11:44:40 AM

0 Boost

Can always expect JRob to come flying in to defend the BMW mothership!

Ccoxx - 12/20/2013 7:15:23 PM

+1 Boost

GermanNut: Bmw's strategy of purposely limiting production to ensure quality must be one of the reasons why (one of yesterdays posts) Audi is spending $27.5 BILLION "to try and catch up to BMW".....

JDMUSMuscle - 12/21/2013 4:08:38 AM

0 Boost

What are you talking about? The Germans are way too arrogant to do recalls, so I guess if BMW is worried about the quality of this car, then this car must be a lot more unreliable than junk itself.