BMW will reveal an all-electric concept car based on its upcoming Neue Klasse modular architecture at the 2023 CES tech show in Las Vegas in January.
“The next highlight on our road to the Neue Klasse will follow in January 2023,” said BMW AG chief financial officer Dr Nicolas Peter at a BMW Group 2022 third quarter conference.
“At CES in Las Vegas, we will be unveiling a Vision Vehicle that will underpin our digital expertise. The future of the BMW Group is electric, circular and digital.”
BMW i4
At this stage it’s unclear what this BMW Neue Klasse concept car will look like, but it will definitely be all-electric.
Seeing that Dr Peter used the word ‘circular’ during his speech, this could mean the concept car will be fitted with the new cylindrical battery cells that will be used in Neue Klasse vehicles from mid-decade.
BMW claims these new battery cells will reduce production costs by up to 50 per cent, increase range by up to 30 per cent, and be 20 per cent more energy dense.
As previously reported, the Neue Klasse platform is set to debut in 2025 on a 3 Series-sized vehicle, which will be pitted against the Tesla Model 3.
BMW i3 
BMW 3 Series
It’s still unknown what this first Neue Klasse vehicle will be called. It could wear the i3 badge, which is currently used on a 3 Series-based EV for China and was previously used on a quirky hatch.
An X3-sized electric SUV is understood to be the second vehicle to use the Neue Klasse platform.
Looking to the future, BMW is developing all-solid-state batteries and aims to have high-voltage batteries of this type ready for series introduction by the end of this decade.
BMW cylindrical battery cells
The German carmaker plans to reveal a vehicle fitted with this battery technology before 2025.
Unlike some other automakers, BMW has yet to make any announcements about when it will end development and production of internal-combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
The carmaker’s latest plan calls for it to produce a total of two million all-electric cars by 2025. By 2030, the company expects half of its annual global sales to be EVs.
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