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The BMW iX arrived in America with all the right ingredients: bold styling, heavy technology, and a headline act as BMW’s flagship electric SUV. But the numbers never quite matched the ambition. After a brutal first quarter, with U.S. sales down 50.7 percent to just 1,788 units, BMW is pulling the plug on the iX in the American market.
BMW is already looking past the iX
According to a statement shared with BMW Blog, the company is shifting its U.S. focus toward the next wave of fully electric models. “Our success in the U.S. is driven by a broad and flexible powertrain portfolio that allows us to navigate a dynamic environment, while continuing to evolve our lineup,” the spokesperson said. “As part of this progression, we are concluding U.S. allocation of the BMW iX as we prepare for the next-generation of our fully electric vehicles.”
That may sound like corporate polish, but the message is clear. The iX served its purpose as a showcase for BMW’s electric ambitions, yet the brand is now turning the page. The company described the SUV as a technological showcase that pushed boundaries in design, manufacturing, sustainability, and circularity. Admirable, yes. Commercially unstoppable, not quite.
The real action is shifting to Neue Klasse, BMW’s next-generation EV family. Leading the charge is the iX3, introduced last fall and expected to reach U.S. showrooms in the middle of this year. BMW has previously said the iX3 50 xDrive will start at around $60,000, a figure that instantly makes the outgoing iX look expensive by comparison.
And the hardware tells a similar story. The iX3 50 xDrive pairs a 112.2 kWh battery with a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system producing 463 hp and 476 lb-ft of torque. BMW says it should sprint from 0 to 60 mph in about 4.7 seconds, while delivering an EPA-estimated range of up to 400 miles. On a 400 kW DC fast charger, drivers could add about 175 miles of range in just ten minutes. That is the sort of spec sheet that gets attention.
By contrast, the iX has always looked a little less convincing on paper, especially in entry-level form. The current base model starts at $75,150 and uses a 94.8 kWh battery with 402 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. It can reach 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, which is quick enough, but its 312-mile range and 175 kW charging peak feel modest next to BMW’s newer electric push. A ten-minute charge adds only 78 miles.
The iX was never short on presence. It looked like the future, and for a while that mattered. But in the U.S. market, where range, charging speed, and value all matter in equal measure, style and symbolism were not enough to keep it afloat.
BMW, for its part, is not stepping back from electrification. If anything, it is sharpening the plan. The iX may be leaving American dealerships, but the next chapter is already rolling toward the showroom floor.
Source: carscoops
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