BMW opened pre-orders for the new iX3 in China on August 21. Within a few days, the model received tens of thousands of pre-orders. In some dealerships, the number of applications approached 80 in the first week.
The paradox is that there is actually nothing to sell yet. Demonstration models are expected to arrive at approximately 500 dealerships only by the end of October. Therefore, managers have to show customers photos and BMW materials instead of the car in the showroom.
The price of the new iX3 in China ranges from 269,900 to 339,900 yuan (approximately 3.3-4.2 million rubles). The model is built on the new electric Neue Klasse architecture, features an 800-volt system, and a 108 kWh battery. The maximum declared range reaches 919 km according to CLTC.
Electronics are no less important. BMW developed an intelligent driving system in collaboration with Momenta, and it is available in all trim levels. The multimedia system is integrated with Alibaba Qwen and DeepSeek large language models.
But now BMW faces a more difficult task – to retain customers until delivery. The first cars are expected to be handed over to customers in November, and mass deliveries could extend until 2027. In some cases, the wait could be about five months.
For the Chinese market, this is a long time: local manufacturers often try to start deliveries almost simultaneously with the opening of sales. Therefore, the success of the iX3 cannot yet be measured solely by the number of pre-orders. The main test for BMW will begin when buyers have the opportunity to compare the car with competitors in person.