[Mani59]

     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

+++ BMW Group Plant Debrecen in Hungary gears up for start of series production late next year +++ First test vehicles produced for fully-electric Neue Klasse X model +++ Validation of manufacturing processes is progressing according to plan +++

Debrecen. BMW Group Plant Debrecen in Hungary is shifting into first gear: Production of test vehicles is ramping up and the first near-series fully-electric X models for the Neue Klasse are now leaving the production line.* This marks the beginning of the final preparation phase for the start of series production in late 2025.

“The production of the first test vehicles in Debrecen is an important milestone in commissioning the new plant,” says Milan Nedeljković, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Production. With vehicles now approaching series maturity, all logistics and production processes at the plant are being tested and constantly optimised under real conditions to ensure a smooth start of series production.

On the road to series production

The integration of new models in a plant starts with the production of near-series vehicles – an important step for the preparation of series production in Debrecen. As part of this process, test vehicles cycle through all production steps. This also means that all logistics processes, manufacturing equipment and operations performed by employees at the plant already have to function smoothly. These operations are just as complex as in actual series production. Despite the limited number of parts involved, they must still be made available in the appropriate logistics processes.

Materials and vehicle parts are delivered daily to Plant Debrecen, with test vehicles coming off the production line on a continuous basis. Every part and every production step is closely scrutinised. Special attention is paid to validation of cutting-edge production systems and tools, including their digital connectivity.

Running system tests for the future vehicle model helps identify further potential for optimisation. In the coming months, the focus will be on refining processes, based on the insights gained.

During this phase, new staff will also undergo intensive training on the installations and machinery. Close cooperation across all areas of production will ensure operations are seamlessly integrated for a smooth and successful series launch.

[Chihuahua]

Looking forward to the reveal of these.

[M5ddox]

If you squint really really hard with your eyes almost closed you can see the design

[Bimmerfun82]

Factory looks awesome. BMW may have the best chance to catch up to Tesla’s EV sales volume if this platform is stellar. (Outside of BYD.)

[AshwinLB]

Originally Posted by Bimmerfun82

Factory looks awesome. BMW may have the best chance to catch up to Tesla’s EV sales volume if this platform is stellar. (Outside of BYD.)

I think having this dedicated platform plus the fact it will have the NACS connector (formerly Tesla connector), it will have a real fighting chance to compete with Tesla. The only benefit Tesla had was its charging network and now everyone can pretty much use it with the introduction of NACS

[Windshieldfarmer]

Originally Posted by Bimmerfun82

Factory looks awesome. BMW may have the best chance to catch up to Tesla’s EV sales volume if this platform is stellar. (Outside of BYD.)

And the price is competitive…something that BMW is not particularly good at doing.

[phiishstiicks]

No one wants an EV. I'm really happy they will have ICE versions of these. I like the design language in the concepts.

[Bimmerfun82]

Originally Posted by Windshieldfarmer

And the price is competitive…something that BMW is not particularly good at doing.

True. But with the new US stance toward EVs I think the advantages here will disappear. Even with the tariffs which I doubt the administration will levy on European automakers. Plus BMW has a massive advantage on financing and leasing rates. The Y pricing should be the main objective but BMW could price $10k above and people would buy it instead imho.

[Bimmerfun82]

Originally Posted by phiishstiicks

No one wants an EV. I'm really happy they will have ICE versions of these. I like the design language in the concepts.

Hold my beer. Outside of China 400k/mo are buying an EV.

[phiishstiicks]

Originally Posted by Bimmerfun82

Hold my beer. Outside of China 400k/mo are buying an EV.

Fair. I certainly have zero interest as an enthusiast. I know a single person in my life who owns An EV. Anecdotally, no one I know, enthusiast or not, wants an EV (except that one guy lol). Especially as incentives disappear. Look at the second hand market on any EV. You can get a turbo s taycan for like 75% under msrp. If people wanted them, they wouldn't be so cheap, IMO.

[Bimmerfun82]

Originally Posted by phiishstiicks

Fair. I certainly have zero interest as an enthusiast. I know a single person in my life who owns An EV. Anecdotally, no one I know, enthusiast or not, wants an EV (except that one guy lol). Especially as incentives disappear. Look at the second hand market on any EV. You can get a turbo s taycan for like 75% under msrp. If people wanted them, they wouldn't be so cheap, IMO.

They’re cheap as resale because of battery life & replacement cost.

I have an iXM60 and almost everyone I know and nearly all my neighbors have 1 EV. It’s the commuter car and the enthusiast car is also in the garage. You’ll eventually be a late adopter.

Btw I’m on my third EV. First one broke even, second one lost 30% in 2 years (model Y, so not a huge financial hit, blame it on Tesla price drops). This one is leased.

[phiishstiicks]

Originally Posted by Bimmerfun82

They’re cheap as resale because of battery life & replacement cost.

I have an iXM60 and almost everyone I know and nearly all my neighbors have 1 EV. It’s the commuter car and the enthusiast car is also in the garage. You’ll eventually be a late adopter.

Certainly possible. The idea of getting a $180k Porsche for $70k is not, not tempting.

[LuisBoston]

Originally Posted by phiishstiicks

No one wants an EV. I'm really happy they will have ICE versions of these. I like the design language in the concepts.

Uh ok.

And there will be no ICE version of these. Thankfully the NK platform wont be compromised.

[LuisBoston]

Originally Posted by Bimmerfun82

True. But with the new US stance toward EVs I think the advantages here will disappear. Even with the tariffs which I doubt the administration will levy on European automakers. Plus BMW has a massive advantage on financing and leasing rates. The Y pricing should be the main objective but BMW could price $10k above and people would buy it instead imho.

The Model Y?

Does BMW sell the 5-series to compete with the Camry or Sonata? No.

[Bimmerfun82]

Originally Posted by LuisBoston

The Model Y?

Does BMW sell the 5-series to compete with the Camry or Sonata? No.

Yep, that's what the platform is going after. It's absolutely a response to the #1 EV global sales leader (outside of China). Hopefully it will be priced within $10k - but that may be unrealistic.

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/b...ch-231209.html

[LuisBoston]

Originally Posted by Bimmerfun82

Yep, that's what the platform is going after. It's absolutely a response to the #1 EV global sales leader (outside of China). Hopefully it will be priced within $10k - but that may be unrealistic.

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/bmw-vision-neue-klasse-x-vs-tesla-model-y-will-the-bestseller-flinch-231209.html

BMW is not a volume chaser — it’s not going to launch price wars to move metal.

That article is basically an opinion piece:

“If BMW wants its Neue Klasse architecture to succeed, the upcoming iX3 must beat the Model Y as the public's favorite.”

This statement is dumb. It’s like saying the 3-series is a failure because it doesn’t sell as many cars as the Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla.

[baron95]

Originally Posted by AshwinLB

I think having this dedicated platform plus the fact it will have the NACS connector (formerly Tesla connector), it will have a real fighting chance to compete with Tesla. The only benefit Tesla had was its charging network and now everyone can pretty much use it with the introduction of NACS

That is hardly the only benefit. The Tesla Model 3 performance is 1,000 lbs lighter than the i4M50, while outperforming it on all metrics, and costing 1/2 as much. Look at the Hagerty M3 Comp vs Model 3 Performance video and you will understand how far ahead Tesla is in the cost/performance curve.

The iX was already on a dedicated platform. So is the Taycan and they all are way behind Tesla.

If you want more luxury and even more capability, Lucid vastly outperforms anything that Porsche Mercedes or BMW have even in their 10 year plans. Tesla, Rivian, Lucid and the Chinese are in a completely different playing field than the Europeans and Japanese.

[Bimmerfun82]

Originally Posted by LuisBoston

BMW is not a volume chaser — it’s not going to launch price wars to move metal.

That article is basically an opinion piece:

“If BMW wants its Neue Klasse architecture to succeed, the upcoming iX3 must beat the Model Y as the public's favorite.”

This statement is dumb. It’s like saying the 3-series is a failure because it doesn’t sell as many cars as the Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla.

BMW sold 2.55 million vehicles last year.
Tesla sold 1.75 million.

I don’t understand your logic. BMW can absolutely catch up to Tesla.

[BlkGS]

Originally Posted by Bimmerfun82

They’re cheap as resale because of battery life & replacement cost.

I have an iXM60 and almost everyone I know and nearly all my neighbors have 1 EV. It’s the commuter car and the enthusiast car is also in the garage. You’ll eventually be a late adopter.

Btw I’m on my third EV. First one broke even, second one lost 30% in 2 years (model Y, so not a huge financial hit, blame it on Tesla price drops). This one is leased.

I think you nailed it. People who are willing to have a car for nothing but commuting like EVs. They are already making enough money to afford 3+ cars, so being able to have an EV that they just charge at home saves them even more money commuting.

The average middle class or upper middle class or even lower upper class person isn't going to have a car just for commuting, while having other cars at home for other uses.


All that said, I think the EV industry will be better off without tax credits and without any sort of mandates or implied mandates (like CAFE). Then the automakers will actually start building the best products they can, vs the fastet to market ones they can. They'll start to realize that dedicated EV platforms are a waste of money, and the correct way to do EVs is a modular platform that works as a ICE, PHEV, or BEV without any reconfiguration.

[JMD]

I had to do some seriously Hard Squinting!

[BlkGS]

Originally Posted by baron95

That is hardly the only benefit. The Tesla Model 3 performance is 1,000 lbs lighter than the i4M50, while outperforming it on all metrics, and costing 1/2 as much. Look at the Hagerty M3 Comp vs Model 3 Performance video and you will understand how far ahead Tesla is in the cost/performance curve.

The iX was already on a dedicated platform. So is the Taycan and they all are way behind Tesla.

If you want more luxury and even more capability, Lucid vastly outperforms anything that Porsche Mercedes or BMW have even in their 10 year plans. Tesla, Rivian, Lucid and the Chinese are in a completely different playing field than the Europeans and Japanese.

Tesla and Rivian products are so good (on paper).because they're either lies and super shitty in reality (Tesla), or totally unconstrained in what they can do (Rivian). Rivian makes a 1000hp truck and SUV, because there's no EPA or CAFE to stop them. Any automakers could build a 1000hp vehicle if they were totally uncorked by emissions and fuel economy requirements.

Believe me, if there was nothing holding them back, all the luxury automakers would build 1000+ HP v12 super sedans. But they can't, because that would go against regulations, but if you use up electricity even faster and charge it off a coal plant it's totally fine.

[JMD]

Originally Posted by BlkGS

...and the correct way to do EVs is a modular platform that works as a ICE, PHEV, or BEV without any reconfiguration.

Sort of like BMW is doing with the new 5 Series!

5-Series ICE
i5 BEV
5-Series Hybrid

I don't remember if there will be an I6 PHEV along side the V8 PHEV!

Right now,...PHEV is the best of both worlds!