BMW may boost i3 production amid strong demand
Early demand for the BMW i3 electric vehicle is very strong, prompting BMW to consider an increase in production capacity. More than 8000 i3s have been reserved and the vehicle only goes on sale next month in Europe.
BMW figures it will sell more than 10,000 i3s next year. In an interview with Bloomberg, BMW's Chief Financial Officer Friedrich Eichiner says the company "will adjust capacity according to demand. If demand holds, which is what it's looking like, we will soon have to invest more."
BMW has already invested almost $3.5 billion in new facilities to produce its line of electric vehicles. The heavy investment was because the car was not converted from an existing model but rather designed from scratch.
The i3 will be on sale in Canada in the first half of 2014. Its range will be between 130 and 160 km on a single charge but with a Rex range-extender that could double to 300 km. Its lithium-ion powerplant produces 170 horsepower and 185 lb-ft of torque.