Source | Yuan Auto

"The BMW New-Generation iX3 doesn't have any test-drive vehicles yet—you'll have to wait until the end of November."

On October 29, Yuan Auto learned from multiple BMW 4S dealerships in Guangzhou and Zhuhai that the new-generation iX3, whose pricing and specifications were announced on August 21, will not be available for test drives until November at the earliest, and that dealerships currently have neither test-drive vehicles nor static display cars on hand.

Notably, the announced starting price of 269,900 yuan for the new-generation iX3 is already the final price. "This price will remain unchanged when the car officially goes on sale," BMW public relations told Yuan Auto on August 21.

In addition, although most BMW 4S dealerships do not yet have static display cars of the new-generation iX3, the automaker has been organizing city roadshows. Pop-up static exhibitions in cities including Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Wuhan have concluded, and a second round of roadshows launched in mid-October will cover more than 40 cities.

It must be said that the launch process of the BMW new-generation iX3 is truly unconventional. A new car that still can't be test-driven two months after its price was announced is probably impossible to find a second example of in the entire domestic auto market. The reason the BMW new-generation iX3 is so unusual may be related to its battery—one of its biggest selling points.

"The official mass production of the sixth-generation power battery in Shenyang is key to the new generation landing in China, and also marks a new step for BMW's localization."

On October 15, BMW held a rollout ceremony for the sixth-generation power battery at its powertrain plant in Shenyang. As Birgit Boehm, President and CEO of BMW Brilliance, put it, without this battery, BMW's "new generation" all-electric new-car story would not be complete.

Compared with BMW's previous power batteries, the most distinctive feature of the sixth-generation power battery is its cell form. It follows the large cylindrical battery route, with a cell diameter of 46 millimeters. For reference, the cylindrical battery cells equipped in the Tesla Model Y (long-range and high-performance versions) currently produced at the Shanghai Gigafactory have a cell diameter of 21 millimeters, while Chinese-brand new energy vehicles mainly use prismatic cell batteries, including blade batteries.

The biggest advantage of power batteries with large cylindrical cells is that they can increase the energy density of the battery cells.

Specifically for the BMW new-generation iX3, this means that at a comparable power battery weight, it can achieve higher battery capacity and provide a longer range; or, with the same battery capacity, make the vehicle's curb weight lighter, thereby improving handling performance. At the same time, BMW also stated that the charging speed of the sixth-generation power battery has been significantly improved.

In terms of data, the BMW new-generation iX3 has a maximum range of more than 900 kilometers (CLTC conditions), and charging for 10 minutes can add up to 418 kilometers of range.

But everything has two sides. The reason why large cylindrical cells, despite so many advantages, are studied by only a few automakers such as BMW and Tesla is that they are difficult to mass produce. Tesla has so far only reached the stage of small-batch installation. Therefore, BMW, which has already loudly announced the mass production rollout of the sixth-generation power battery and is expected to deliver the new-generation iX3 on a large scale within the year, is already the fastest-moving leading automaker in the industry.

It can be expected that the launch progress and even sales of the BMW new-generation iX3 will largely depend on the mass production situation of large cylindrical cells. In this regard, BMW needs its two major cell suppliers, CATL and EVE Energy, to withstand the pressure and not drop the ball.

According to a report by CNR, the entry-level 30L version of the new-generation BMW iX3 is equipped with CATL's prismatic-cell lithium iron phosphate battery, while the two higher-spec versions, 40L and 50L, are equipped with large cylindrical ternary lithium batteries of different capacities. Among them, the 40L uses dual suppliers, and the 50L is entirely supplied by EVE Energy.

"At present, EVE Energy's large cylindrical battery production line is operating at full capacity to ensure batch delivery of the new car, and the cell yield rate has exceeded 95%," CNR stated in its report.

For prospective owners waiting on the sidelines with cash in hand for the BMW new-generation iX3, waiting from August to November is certainly agonizing—especially since during this period heavyweight new cars in the same price range, represented by the new Li Auto i6, have arrived later but sooner. It is not easy to withstand the "temptation" of competitors.

From this point of view, it seems understandable why BMW officially announced the "irresistibly good" starting price of 269,900 yuan for the new-generation iX3 two months before the battery rolled off the mass production line.

Next, it remains to be seen whether the BMW new-generation iX3 can prove itself worthy of everyone's wait.

Some images are cited from the internet. If there is any infringement, please inform us for deletion.