Article Abstract
- The sedan market is shrinking general, however BMW’s market share within the section is rising.
- Globally, crossovers and SUVs are outselling sedans.
- BMW notes that demand for sedans stays secure in Europe whereas South Korea is a powerful market.
BMW could have kicked off the Neue Klasse revolution with the iX3, however the i3 isn’t far behind. Lower than a yr separates the 2: the crossover went into manufacturing in October 2025, whereas the sedan will hit the meeting line this coming August. It reveals that the standard physique fashion nonetheless ranks excessive on Munich’s listing of priorities.
2026 may even see the launch of the following 3 Collection Sedan with combustion engines. Earlier than that occurs, BMW is weeks away from unveiling the 7 Collection/i7 facelift. Much more updates are locked in for 2027, when the 5 Collection/i5 will obtain a Life Cycle Impulse. Whilst SUVs proceed their meteoric rise, the corporate’s product chief explains why BMW stays invested within the sedan section. We caught up with Bernd Körber earlier this week on the i3’s reveal:
“On a world stage, SUVs have surpassed sedans, however we see a balancing of sedans in lots of markets. Europe could be very secure. Korea remains to be a really sturdy sedan market, an important marketplace for us. If you happen to take a world perspective, yearly there’s a slight transfer out of sedan into SUV – that has been a pattern. However throughout the sedan, now we have additionally prolonged our market share.”
So whereas the automotive trade is seeing decrease demand for sedans, BMW is capturing a bigger share of the shrinking market. Conserving the sedan alive can be excellent news for many who choose the added practicality of a wagon however don’t need an SUV. Working example: a brand new 3 Collection Touring was teased through the i3 sedan’s reveal, and it might supply each combustion engines and electrical drivetrains. It might even come to the US, though that hasn’t been determined but.
After all, BMW wouldn’t decide to a brand new Touring if demand have been weak. Turning a sedan right into a wagon doesn’t require a considerable funding, however with out the sedan as a basis, justifying the price of a wagon can be troublesome. Even when you’re into SUVs, it’s value appreciating automakers that supply this a lot selection. As you’ll be able to think about, managing such a variety of fashions throughout so many segments is massively advanced.
BMW may double down on sedans with a brand new entry towards the tip of the last decade. There are reviews that an i2 (NA8) will arrive in 2030 on the Neue Klasse platform, slotting under the i3. Consider it as an electrical 2 Collection Gran Coupe, however with rear-wheel drive as a substitute. As a refresher, the devoted electrical underpinnings have been engineered strictly for RWD and xDrive fashions. That additionally opens the door for rear-wheel-drive MINIs sooner or later.
In the meantime, China and probably different markets will get a special taste of the 2027 i3 (NA0). The electrical sedan is about to have its wheelbase stretched for the NA8 launching subsequent yr. We additionally wouldn’t rule out one other technology of the long-wheelbase 3 Collection Sedan with combustion engines.
