MUNICH — BMW will design vehicles based mostly on its Neue Klasse electrical platform particularly for the Chinese language market, CEO Oliver Zipse mentioned.

BMW unveiled the Imaginative and prescient Neue Klasse idea previewing its subsequent era of lengthy vary, fast-charging EVs on the IAA Mobility auto present in Munich this month.

Chinese language designers at BMW are already growing car variants based mostly on the Neue Klasse particularly for China, Zipse mentioned on the World New Vitality Automobile Congress that was held for the primary time outdoors of China as a part of the IAA.

“I can not reveal an excessive amount of at the moment, however BMW Design Shanghai is already engaged on particular designs and capabilities for China-specific fashions of the New Class,” Zipse mentioned.

The primary EV based mostly on the Neue Klasse might be a 3 Sequence-sized sedan that launches in 2025. Will probably be adopted by an SUV.

Neue Klasse vehicles initially might be constructed at BMW’s new manufacturing unit at Debrecen, Hungary. Neue Klasse manufacturing will comply with at BMW’s house plant in Munich, Germany and in Shenyang, China in 2026, and in San Luis Potosi, Mexico in 2027.

BMW plans to launch six fashions based mostly on the Neue Klasse structure by 2027.

Neue Klasse vehicles will use new cylindrical batteries mentioned to offer 20 % extra vitality density than its present prismatic cells, serving to to spice up driving vary by 30 %.

As a part of his keynote speech on the congress, Zipse additionally mentioned BMW will launch a gas cell variant based mostly on the Neue Klasse platform.

“The Neue Klasse just isn’t battery-electric-only, it’s also zero emissions. What does that imply? Effectively, we are able to think about hydrogen-electric propulsion programs for the Neue Klasse. For us, hydrogen is at all times a part of the equation after we speak about zero-emission automobiles. That’s what units our method aside from the remainder.”