Although it’s unlikely that this will happen, BMW is taking preventive steps.
Although the death of the internal combustion engine is being widely exaggerated, the ICE still has plenty to live for. Nevertheless, there will be some countries that will ban sales of cars with gasoline or diesel engines sooner than others. It seems more likely that Europe will become the first to switch to EVs. The EU’s 2035 ban must be voted on. If that happens, BMW will be prepared.
According to Oliver Zipse, the CEO of German luxury brand, Luxus, the company is actively planning for a ban on combustion engines in 2023. At a conference in Nuertingen, near Stuttgart, top brass questioned whether the ICE ban was a good idea after Zipse stated that the BMW Group – which includes Mini as well as Rolls-Royce – would be ready to offer ICE-less cars starting in the next decade.
BMW has yet to set a date for the end of all combustion engine-powered cars, unlike other luxury brands. Jaguar will be the first to switch exclusively to electric vehicles in 2025, while Volvo and Bentley will follow suit at the end. Mercedes also stated that it will transition to zero emission cars by 2030 but only when market conditions permit. Audi will stop producing gasoline and diesel cars by 2033. However, it won’t be in China. BMW won’t have an EV platform available until 2025, when the Neue Klasse is set to open the door for a new generation of electric cars. Bavarians have been adding to their product line with the iX3 SUV and iX SUVs. They are also adding the i4, and the upcoming 3 Series EV. The X1, 7 Series and 5 Series successors are confirmed to offer an EV option.