BMW plans to expand its Neue Klasse electric vehicle lineup with a new compact model in 2028, while the automaker will unveil the all-electric iX4 later this year. The plans were outlined during BMW Group’s Capital Market Day 2026 as the company prepares to extend Neue Klasse technology across more vehicle segments.
BMW said it intends to “strategically expand the high-volume entry segment with another all-electric model of the Neue Klasse in 2028,” with Europe identified as a key market. The upcoming compact vehicle will mark the first time the Neue Klasse technology is applied to BMW’s entry-level segment.
BMW Prepares New Compact EV for 2028
BMW has not yet confirmed the name or body style of the new compact electric model. Reports have suggested that it could become the BMW i1, with the vehicle reportedly carrying the internal designation NB0.
Earlier reports indicated that BMW was considering two electric compact models, potentially named the i1 and i2. The i1 has been described as potentially taking the form of a compact hatchback or saloon depending on the market, although BMW has not confirmed those details.
The company has also not disclosed the vehicle’s battery capacity, range, powertrain configuration or pricing.
BMW iX4 Set to Join Neue Klasse Lineup
BMW also confirmed that the all-electric iX4 will be unveiled later this year. The model is expected to take the form of an electric SUV coupé positioned alongside the iX3.
The iX4 would follow the naming approach established by BMW’s combustion-engine X3 and X4, with the latter serving as the coupé-style counterpart to the conventional SUV.
Production of the iX4 is also expected to take place in Debrecen, Hungary, where BMW has established manufacturing operations for Neue Klasse vehicles.
The iX4 will follow the introduction of the all-electric iX3 and i3, which are among the first production models to use the new platform and its associated technologies.
Neue Klasse Technology Extends Across BMW Models
BMW said the Neue Klasse is designed to provide competitive technology across its broader vehicle portfolio and different drivetrain types. While the platform is central to the company’s electric vehicle strategy, some of its components and technologies will also be applied to hybrid and combustion-engine models.
A new zonal electrical and electronic architecture is expected to eventually reach all vehicle segments. BMW says the approach can reduce system complexity, increase economies of scale and allow new functions to be introduced more quickly.
BMW Develops the “AI-Defined Vehicle”
BMW is also using Neue Klasse as the foundation for a broader shift toward software-defined vehicles. The company describes its next stage as the “AI-Defined Vehicle,” where software and artificial intelligence would coordinate different vehicle functions based on the driving situation.
Rather than treating individual functions as separate systems, BMW envisions greater interaction between driver assistance, infotainment and comfort features. The objective is for these systems to respond more intuitively to the vehicle’s context.
iX3 Orders Extend Into 2027
BMW said the initial market response to the Neue Klasse has been strong. The company reported that the iX3 has received more than 100,000 orders, with more than 30,000 vehicles delivered.
According to BMW, order books for the iX3 extend into the second quarter of 2027. The automaker also said the model has already reached margin parity with combustion-engine vehicles in several key markets.
The planned iX4 and 2028 compact EV will further broaden BMW’s Neue Klasse lineup as the company extends its new electrical architecture, software systems and electric powertrain technologies across additional vehicle segments.
