BMW Accelerates EV Program, Adds Functionality

BMW AG aims to launch 25 electrified vehicles by 2023, two years earlier than the company’s previous plan.

The carmaker intends to grow sales of hybrids and pure electric vehicles by more than 30% per year through 2025. This includes doubling sales of such models over the next two years to about 1 million units.

CEO Harald Kruger and other executives outlined the plans on Monday night at an event in Munich. The company also unveiled the Vision M Next concept car (pictured), which previews an upcoming high-performance plug-in hybrid model.

BMW currently offers plug-in hybrid versions of its 3 and 7 Series sedans and X3 and X5 crossovers. Similar variants of the 5 Series sedan and 2 Series Active Tourer are due this summer. A dozen pure EVs also are in the works, including several Mini small cars and the high-end iNext crossover.

All future BMW plug-in hybrid models will be equipped with the carmaker’s new eDrive Zone system. The technology automatically switches the car to full-electric mode when driving in specially designated geo-fenced areas, such as zones in European cities that allow only zero-emission vehicles. BMW currently is testing the technology in the Netherlands.