Good Or Bad? Analyst Says i3 Pricing To Be In The Ballpark Of A Normally Equipped 3-Series

The four-door i3 small car, the first offering of BMW’s new electric vehicle sub-brand, will reach U.S. showrooms in May, the company said. BMW is spending about $3 billion to develop the i3 and the i8 plug-in hybrid supercar, according to an estimate by the consulting firm Frost & Sullivan.

“It will be in the ballpark of a normally” equipped 3 Series, Ludwig Willisch, head of BMW North America. “The US will be the biggest BMW i market in the world,” Willisch added. “Will we get enough cars in the first year? Probably not. Again, that’s a nice problem to have.”

GermanNut - 1/27/2014 3:17:52 PM

-1 Boost

This is awful. I understand BMW wants to deliver a "premium" electric car but just look at the design and size of the i3. You literally get an ugly car that is so small and the interior is not that great.

Huge pricing mistake. The i3 should start at no more than $30K base price.

scenicbyway12 - 1/27/2014 6:29:32 PM

+3 Boost

"no more than $30K base price"

Really for a carbon fiber, car and the greenest interior on the planet. At 30k it would be priced like the leaf, which is a 1000 lbs heavier and a lot slower.

Lets be frank the if it has a BMW roundel on it you going to hate it any way.

ParadoX - 1/27/2014 5:00:47 PM

+1 Boost

The problem I have with it is that for the price, I would rather have other vehicles (like a 3 series).

I am reminded of the Tesla Model S. It is built and priced to compete. That is what I want from BMW, not an overpriced and under-performing hatchback.

atc98092 - 1/27/2014 8:07:42 PM

+1 Boost

Try again with your title. It isn't an "analyst" making the statement, it's the head of BMW North America. Not quite the same...

JRobUSC - 1/28/2014 12:41:33 PM

+2 Boost

you can already build one on BMW's site. A fully loaded one with range extender is in the mid-$50's, before the $7500 federal tax credit and any state tax credits, so basically mid-$40's for a loaded one. Mid-$40's for a carbon fiber car is incredible. For a carbon fiber electric BMW it's downright earth shattering.

dlin - 1/28/2014 3:15:44 PM

+1 Boost

Well who cares about CF? I simply don't understand why anyone would want such a ugly car!

MorePower - 1/28/2014 9:27:19 PM

+1 Boost

Carbon Fiber ain't cheap and BMW knows that customers will not only gladly pay a premium for vehicles with their letters and logo glued on them, but also with the right lease "special", you can get customers that normally could not afford to buy your vehicles.

Besides, it still looks better than a Prius and in a lot of consumer's minds, a BMW always beats a Toyota.

dlin - 1/30/2014 1:59:43 AM

+1 Boost

Looks better than Prius? Ya.... right.