BMW‘s new assembly plant in Mexico – the complex opened in 2019 – could soon become the Bavarian division’s first electric vehicle production center. At least that’s what Automotive News says, citing a source familiar with BMW’s future plans.
In fact, AN even goes so far as to predict the arrival of the iX3 SUV and the pure electric 3 Series sedan, starting in 2027 at this San Luis Potosi, Mexico plant. The priority would be to start production of the iX3 SUV first and then look at the all-electric version of the future 3 Series.
This rumor, which has not been confirmed by BMW’s staff, is not without meaning, since the automaker has already indicated that part of the production of the popular X3 would be entrusted to its Mexican plant, as the demand for the midsize crossover has simply been too strong for the past few seasons. The BMW X3 is THE best-selling vehicle in the U.S., and BMW sold more than 200,000 X-tattooed vehicles last year south of the border, a figure that speaks volumes about the appeal of this luxury SUV format to consumers.
For now, the Mexican plant is assembling the 2-Series and 3-Series, but with only 39 percent of its annual production capacity, it’s clear that this plant will be called upon to increase its production rate in the years to come, whether it’s for vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines or for EVs outright.
The next 3-Series will be based on a brand-new platform that should play a crucial role in the brand’s electric shift, according to BMW Group CEO Oliver Zipse. This new platform will allow the integration of more powerful engines, but also new cell formats for the batteries.
We will probably know more in the coming months.
Source: Automotive News
