Next-gen BMW iX3 with extended wheelbase exclusive to China, to launch in 2026
BMW plans to introduce the next-generation iX3 in China in the second half of 2026. The model is being developed with Chinese software and autonomous-driving partners and will be produced in Shenyang as a China-specific version, as reported by Y-Auto.
Information released by BMW and Chinese media reports indicates that the vehicle is not a modification of an existing platform but a model developed with input from local technology suppliers. It will include region-specific software functions, interior configurations and chassis calibration based on usage data in China.
The Chinese version of BMW’s operating system X will support major domestic applications. The in-car voice assistant incorporates large language models from Alibaba and DeepSeek. The driving assistance system is developed with Momenta and is described as covering both urban and highway scenarios.
The next-generation iX3 adopts BMW’s sixth-generation eDrive system, which includes an 800 V high-voltage architecture, large cylindrical battery cells and a new electric motor layout. BMW states that the CLTC range exceeds 900 kilometres. The company also references a European evaluation in which a prototype travelled more than 1,007 kilometres between Debrecen and Munich with remaining charge. Chinese reports describe the upcoming model as using BMW’s next-generation dedicated electric platform.
For the Chinese version, the wheelbase is extended by more than 100 millimetres to increase rear legroom. Seating development by BMW’s Shanghai team adjusts cushioning and length for longer journeys. The vehicle features a panoramic display spanning the A-pillars, a 3D head-up display, and a steering wheel with both physical buttons and capacitive controls. A nano-coated windshield is designed to maintain display visibility when the driver wears polarised sunglasses.
Mercedes-Benz has taken a similar approach with its China-made CLA EV. That model features a wheelbase 40 millimetres longer than its overseas counterpart. It is based on an 800 V architecture, offers a CLTC range of up to 866 kilometres, and starts at 249,000 yuan, about 34,900 USD.
Both models show that certain electric vehicles from international brands now offered in China differ from their overseas versions through locally adjusted dimensions, software configurations, and feature sets.
