Big things are happening at BMW as the company prepares to solidify its electric future. The German automaker is breaking an unwritten rule that has been in effect for half a century, signalling a powerful commitment to the next generation of e-mobility. This monumental change centers on the heart of the brand: the legendary 3 Series. The 3 Series Moves Out to Welcome the i3 Since 1975, the 3 Series Sedan, arguably BMW’s most important model, has been built at the company’s main plant in Munich, Germany. That all changes in the second half of 2026. The next-generation, Neue Klasse-based BMW i3 will take the reins, kicking the internal-combustion 3 Series sedan out of its historic home. This massive organizational shift, announced quietly in the company's recent earnings documents, shows unequivocally that BMW is taking its electric vision seriously. While it may be leaving its birthplace, the combustion-powered 3 Series is far from sidelined. Though not yet officially confirmed, t...
BMW is taking a bold, customer-driven step to cement its position at the pinnacle of high-performance driving. In a strategic move designed to simplify the lineup and deliver maximum value, the performance division is announcing that the celebrated Competition specification will become the new standard for all future M models. This is not a change; it is an elevation of the M badge itself. The Voice of the Enthusiast: M Listens to the Drivers The decision to standardize the Competition model was based on overwhelming feedback from the people who know M cars best: the owners. As BMW M CEO Frank van Meel recently confirmed, the choice was clear: "More than 80 percent of our customers went straight for the Competition. So we said, let's just make that the standard one." In essence, the performance that once required an upgrade package is now the minimum expectation for every new M model. The base M model is being absorbed into the Competition spec, establishing a higher t...