BMW believes its fortunes in China will turn around with the introduction of its revolutionary Neue Klasse electric vehicle series, which took a major step forward this week with the launch of its first model.
The German premium carmaker's Chief Financial Officer, Walter Mertl, expressed confidence that the new range would help BMW regain its footing in what remained its most important global market.
With a 400kW charging rate, enough power to add up to 372 kilometres of driving in ten minutes and a range of up to 805 kilometres, the BMW iX3 50 xDrive will certainly get the attention of car buyers. It can also cover up to 805 kilometres on a single battery charge.
"We are more than competitive with this product," Walter stated in an interview with Reuters. "With increasing availability of the Neue Klasse, we will see growth in China again."
BMW, like other European luxury brands, has struggled in China amid intensifying pressure from domestic electric vehicle manufacturers and a sluggish property sector that has dampened spending among wealthy consumers.
The company's Chinese sales fell by 15.5% during the first six months of 2025.
However, Mertl struck an optimistic tone following Friday's launch of the Neue Klasse iX3 electric SUV, which is set to reach Chinese showrooms by summer 2026.
"Looking at our future model range, I'm not worried," he said.
The vehicle's debut comes ahead of Munich's 2025 IAA automotive exhibition, where established German manufacturers face mounting pressure from an increasingly sophisticated Chinese automotive industry.
A significant breakthrough for BMW lies in the cost reduction achieved with the new model’s battery technology, which is 40% to 50% cheaper than current offerings, according to Mertl. This improvement is expected to substantially boost the company's margins.
The iX3 50 variant could achieve profitability levels matching traditional petrol-powered vehicles, industry parlance for "margin parity", by 2026, the finance chief revealed.
BMW is targeting an automotive EBIT margin between 5% and 7% for 2025, with aspirations to reach 8% to 10% in subsequent years.
The company's strategy involves gradually retiring its current model line-up by 2030 as the Neue Klasse series expand across all segments.
On the subject of US trade policy, where BMW operates its largest manufacturing site, Mertl confirmed that import tariffs would trim the company's profit margins by 1.25 percentage points this year.
Under proposed arrangements, the European Union would drop tariffs on American industrial imports in return for reduced US duties on European cars, falling from 27.5% to 15%, with the automotive industry hoping for retroactive implementation from August.
A dispute over the payload ratings of Jetour’s T1 and T2 SUVs has developed further following weighbridge testing in Gauteng, with the Automobile Association (AA) questioning some of the results and Jetour South Africa maintaining that its revised figures have been independently verified.
Chinese vehicle manufacturers continued to record significantly stronger growth than established OEM brands in South Africa during the second quarter of 2026, according to TransUnion's Q2 2026 Mobility Report.
Ford has broadened its Tourneo Custom line-up in South Africa with the introduction of the new Kombi and the flagship Titanium X AWD.
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Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
George Carlin
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As South Africans celebrate their rich heritage, it is also worth reflecting on a lesser-known chapter of the country's history: its long connection with electric vehicles (EVs).
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