BMW has started trial production of its Neue Klasse electric vehicles at its manufacturing base in Shenyang, signaling progress toward the start of full series production in China in 2026, according to a report by Xinhua.
The first pre-series units of the long-wheelbase BMW iX3 have been built at the Shenyang facility since shortly before Christmas 2025, Xinhua reported. BMW has not disclosed a specific start date for mass production, saying only that series output is planned to begin sometime in 2026.
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BMW announced in April 2024 that it would manufacture Neue Klasse electric vehicles in Shenyang, signing agreements with the Liaoning provincial government to upgrade the site. The project is being carried out by BMW Brilliance Automotive, which will also assemble battery packs locally using high-volume cylindrical battery cells.
According to Xinhua, total investment tied to Neue Klasse vehicle production in Shenyang amounts to about 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion). BMW is working with Chinese partners including CATL and Alibaba on battery development and artificial intelligence integration. The collaboration spans in-vehicle applications as well as more than 200 AI-driven solutions across the production process, the report said.
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The Neue Klasse electric platform represents a central pillar of BMW’s long-term electrification strategy. The automaker first unveiled the iX3 as the inaugural Neue Klasse model at the IAA Mobility show in September, positioning it as a key product for global markets.
While Shenyang will serve as the primary production base for China, BMW has emphasized that Neue Klasse is a global program. Series production for European markets began in October at BMW’s purpose-built plant in Debrecen, Hungary. Additional Neue Klasse models are planned for production in Munich, where the next-generation electric i3 will be offered in saloon and estate body styles.
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BMW has also said it plans to produce Neue Klasse vehicles in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and San Luis Potosí, Mexico, underscoring the global scale of the new electric architecture as the company expands its battery-electric lineup worldwide.