The BMW i5 goes into production at Dingolfing
The i5 will arrive in dealerships in November and will be competing with the Mercedes EQE and Tesla Model S
Following the official presentation in May, BMW is moving straight into production of the new i5 electric sedan at the Dingolfing plant in Germany. The first examples will arrive in BMW dealerships in the autumn. Largely based on the latest 5 Series, the i5 will enable the Bavarian manufacturer to take on the Mercedes EQE and the Tesla Model S.
A traditional design
Compared to the traditional 5 Series, the i5’s design differs little, and there’s a strong sense of the two vehicles’ common roots. In fact, only the grille and bumper are distinguishable. Unlike the Mercedes EQE, which has little in common with the E-Class, the i5 is perfectly in tune with the 5 Series, which is already instantly recognizable. On the technical side, the Bavarian car is equipped accordingly.
Two versions are currently on the programme. The base model eDrive 40 already delivers 340 PS and 430 Nm of torque on the rear wheels. The top-of-the-range xDrive M60 is equipped with two electric motors for a combined peak output of 601 PS and 820 Nm of torque. In both cases, the car is fitted with an 81.2 kWh battery giving a range of up to 582 km for the eDrive 40 and 516 km for the xDrive M60.
A long history with Dingolfing
Lastly, the 5 Series remains a key model for BMW, produced since 1972 at Dingolfing, the brand’s largest factory in Europe. From 1977, the 5 Series was produced alongside the 7 Series limousine. For the first time in its history, it was also produced in an electric version.
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