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BMW i3 to Supplant the i4 as BMW Expands Its Electric Lineup

BMW i3 to Supplant the i4 as BMW Expands Its Electric Lineup
source: gettyimages
March 19, 2026

BMW’s upcoming i3 electric sedan is rapid on US shores, and its arrival signals a shift for the current i4. In short, the i4’s days appear numbered as the i3 steps into the lead role for now.

During the i3’s German launch, BMW product chief Bernd Körber indicated that the i4 won’t be around much longer. He described the i3 as “more or less the successor of the i4,” adding that the company’s electric range will continue to grow in the coming years. In his words: “The i3 is more or less the successor of the i4. But you’ll see the portfolio evolve over the next few years as our electric lineup expands—so there’s more to come. For the time being, though, the i3 is essentially the i4’s successor.”

There have been persistent rumors about the i4 nearing the end of its lifecycle, and Körber’s remarks appear to confirm that trajectory. Even after a 2024 facelift, reports have pointed to production winding down by late 2026. BMW is expected to roll out a new 4 Series in the future, built on the i3’s Neue Klasse architecture.

The i3 is planned to reach customers later this year as a 2027 model, effectively signaling the end of the current i4 lineup as it’s known today.

Zander Sutton contributed to this report.

Motor1’s Take: The handwriting was already on the wall for the i4, and the i3 unveiling reinforces that conclusion. Still, Körber’s comments leave a door open for a future i4—likely one based on BMW’s Neue Klasse platform.

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