The new BMW iX3 electric crossover applied for a sales license in China. It will be locally assembled by the BMW-Brilliance joint venture in Northern China with a 103-mm stretched body and components from local suppliers.
CarNewsChina spotted the BMW iX3 in China during road tests in August 2025. A few months later, the German automaker revealed plans to launch this SUV with an extended wheelbase in China in 2026. This version was revealed in official images, getting ready for the official premiere at the Beijing Auto Show 2026. On April 9, the China-made iX3 applied for a sales license, getting a green light for mass production.
Core specs of the BMW iX3 for China
The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) applied for a sales license of the iX3 50L crossover with a dual-motor AWD. It adopts two e-motors (HF1002N0 and HD1001N0) supplied by ZF Electric Drive Systems (Shenyang) and BMW AG. The front e-motor has a peak power of 116 kW (156 hp) and the rear one provides 235 kW (315 hp). The peak power output reaches 351 kW (471 hp). Interestingly, the global variant of the iX3 offers a peak power of 345 kW (463 hp).
The China-made iX3 50L features a ternary NMC battery pack with cells manufactured by the local supplier Eve Energy. It is a well-known Tesla supplier that unveiled solid-state battery cells with a capacity of 60 Ah. It is worth noting that the BMW-Brilliance JV takes care of the whole battery pack assembly. The electric range of this vehicle has yet to be revealed.
The China-made BMW iX3 aligns with its overseas counterpart in terms of exterior styling. It has a distinguishing kidney-grille and large headlamps. However, this model boasts an elongated body. It is a typical practice for BMW to launch stretched variants of its vehicles in China. BMW-Brilliance currently manufactures the X5 L, the 3 L, the 5-Series L, and other stretched cars due to the love of large cars among local buyers.
The wheelbase of the Chinese variant of the iX3 reaches 3,005 mm. It is 108 mm more than the global version offers. The exact dimensions of the long-wheelbase iX3 are 4885/1895/1635 mm. It is 103 mm longer than the global version. The car’s approach and departure angles are 18 and 20 degrees, respectively. The iX3 adopts staggered 22-inch wheels with 255/35tires in the front and 275/35 in the rear.
Despite growing by 103 mm, the China-made iX3 has a curb weight of 2,371 kg. It is 11 kg more than the global version. The gross weight is 2,800 kg (the global iX3 has a gross weight of 2,825 kg). The China-made vehicle can speed up to 210 km/h. The new SUV has five seats inside.
It was previously reported that the iX3 will be available in nine body colors: Mineral White, Arctic Grey, Marina Bay Blue, Space Silver, Blue Ridge Mountain, Carbon Black, Dune Grey, Flamenco Red, and Frozen Space Silver. It will also feature Momenta’s assisted driving system capable of the Navigate On Autopilot (NOA) function on urban roads and highways.
In 2025, BMW sold approximately 625,500 units of BMW and Mini cars in China. It is a year-on-year decrease of 12.5%, with sales falling back to the 2018 level. According to China EV DataTracker, BMW delivered 82,300 units in China from January to February 2026. The drop in demand for ICE cars and the price war influenced the market. As a result, some BMW dealerships were terminated in China last year. The new iX3 aims to boost the German brand’s market performance in the highly competitive market.
