BMW Confirms the Next 7 Series Will Come with an Electric, Hybrid, Diesel or Gas Powertrain

author: Manish Kharinta   

In October 2019, we reported that BMW will introduce an all-electric version of its 5 Series sedan and X1 SUV. Since then, several industry reports have indicated that the electric X1 crossover SUV might hit the international markets by 2023. 

Now the German premium car manufacturer has gone on record to confirm that the first fully-electric version of its flagship 7 Series sedan is under development. The next-generation BMW 7 Series lineup will also feature a hybrid powertrain along with conventional gas and diesel variants. 

BMW's Chairman of the Board of Management, Oliver Zipse made the revelation during the automaker's annual press conference. 

The all-electric BMW 7 Series will rival the likes of the battery-powered Jaguar XJ, and Mercedes-Benz EQS, both of which are currently under development. 

Its still unclear just when BMW will introduce its electric 7 Series sedan. The current-generation BMW 7 Series is scheduled to go out of production sometime in 2022 and we expect its successor to hit dealerships later that year or in early 2023.

Sharing some insights into BMW's electrified future, Zipse said that the company plans on introducing multiple drive technologies that in the long term will coexist with one another. Zipse said that every BMW 7 Series variant will share the same architecture. 

Right now, the most expensive model in BMW 7 Series lineup is the M740li, which is powered by a 6.6-liter, twin-turbo V12. However, the new top of the range 7 Series will be the all-electric version. 

BMW is also working on the next-generation of its popular X3 crossover, which will be introduced with four different drivetrains. This lineup will also include an all-electric X3 which will likely be called iX3. 

The next-generation BMW iX3 is set to be manufactured out of the company's Chinese production facility later this year. It will be exported to international markets.

BMW's upcoming i4 electric sedan and the 4 Series Gran Coupe will also be manufactured alongside the upcoming iX3 in the automaker's Chinese facility. 

For now, BMW plans on electrifying one quarter of its vehicle lineup by next year. Following this, the automaker aims to have one third of its fleet electrified by 2025 and half of its entire lineup by 2030.

BMW's goals seem quite realistic, as earlier this year the company managed to offer some level of electrification across 10% of all cars sold in January and February. The brand also leads the electrified vehicle segment in Germany and has secured 21% of the entire market share.

However, as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, BMW is shutting down its South African and European Manufacturing facilities along with its dealerships in those markets. BMW is suspending vehicle production until at least April 19 in Europe.

In the U.S., BMW plans to suspend vehicle production at its Spartanburg, South Carolina factory on April 3. The plant produces the X Series models, including the X3, X5, X6 and X7.

Manish Kharinta

Manish Kharinta is a automotive writer based in the Los Angeles area. He has worked for automotive industry websites TheSmokingClutch.com, CarDekho.com and CarBikeindia.com. His experience ranges from covering auto shows, to car reviews and breaking automotive news. Manish aims to bring forth his unique perspective on automotive design and technological innovations in the automotive industry.