[volkman10]

Shown at the 2018 Auto EXpo, the BMW i3 electric hatchback is now being spotted testing in India.

Possible launch in 2020?

BMW appears to be introducing the standard i3 in India as well alongside the i3S to pioneer the brand’s electrification push.

Link

[reihem]

I can only hope and pray this leads to something concrete. I love this car. I would buy it in a flash if it was launched at anything south of 60L !

[GTO]

Originally Posted by reihem

I would buy it in a flash if it was launched at anything south of 60L !

Unfortunately, it's going to be a very expensive car. I doubt BMW will think of this as a CKD, and it costs about 30 lakh rupees in the West. Add our import duties and you are looking at one ridiculously priced hatchback.

Things will change for EVs though and they will become more affordable, but it's going to take time.

I'm very, very impressed with the Chevrolet Bolt EV - unfortunate that GM left India. That would have been an incredible electric hatchback for India.

[reihem]

Originally Posted by GTO

Things will change for EVs though and they will become more affordable, but it's going to take time.

My Volvo dealer here in Chennai insists the next v40/s40 will be a pure electric and will launch in 2020. One can only dream.

On another note, the similarly proportioned B class has an all electric variant that sells abroad. I wonder if we will ever see that on our shores either.

[ads11]

Mini has an electric variant right? I can see an EV Mini doing well in India given the premium connotations of the Mini brand (it still boggles my mind that BMW managed to take Sir Alec's original car and make it basically one of the 2 go to vehicles for posh mums in central London..besides the obligatory Range Rovers..)

I wonder if the govt might make some concessions on import taxes for electric vehicles? Though any concession runs counter to the bloody mindedness with which Make in India is being pursued so I have to second GTO. This'll end up in India but be stupidly priced.

It just reminds me of the Fiat500 in India. My mum adores that car but my dad just couldn't see himself shelling twice the price of a Linea for it (we ended up and still have the Linea!)

[GutsyGibbon]

Originally Posted by GTO

Unfortunately, it's going to be a very expensive car. I doubt BMW will think of this as a CKD, and it costs about 30 lakh rupees in the West. Add our import duties and you are looking at one ridiculously priced hatchback.

This I agree, having driven the i3 it will just not cut it for the majority of people seeking value. There may be a few who will buy in for the brand value, but that will not fetch them numbers.

• Looks ugly with tiny wheels like a vegetable cart with bicycle wheels.
• It has a range of 80mi, my friends say they are getting more like 60mi.
• 0-60 in 7 seconds. more than twice that of Model 3
• Noisy, higher center of gravity, horrid interiors
• Looks like a bad science experiment. I feel the ICE designers at BMW are sabotaging the EV design. Why does it have to look so different. Contrasting color for hood, and boot. Jagged body lines, etc.

We see many i3 cars on road in CA because of very good lease deals. I don't see anyone shelling $45k for the i3.

[jailbird_fynix]

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[srishiva]

Originally Posted by GutsyGibbon

This I agree, having driven the i3 it will just not cut it for the majority of people seeking value. There may be a few who will buy in for the brand value, but that will not fetch them numbers.

• Looks ugly with tiny wheels like a vegetable cart with bicycle wheels.
• It has a range of 80mi, my friends say they are getting more like 60mi.
• 0-60 in 7 seconds. more than twice that of Model 3
• Noisy, higher center of gravity, horrid interiors
• Looks like a bad science experiment. I feel the ICE designers at BMW are sabotaging the EV design. Why does it have to look so different. Contrasting color for hood, and boot. Jagged body lines, etc.

We see many i3 cars on road in CA because of very good lease deals. I don't see anyone shelling $45k for the i3.

I agree. Seeing not many of them in bay area compared to others. Its anything but a BMW. The wheels look horrible on that car and haven't seen anything uglier.

[arunrajk81]

When I saw i3 first time, I felt it’s ugly considering it’s a BMW. Over a time period, after seeing other electric cars (Other than Tesla), now for me it looks cute. Its wheel dimensions are different between front and rear - 19 x 5.0 front, 19 x 5.5 rear. Bringing it as CBU to India will take away its operating cost advantage of being an electric.

[Senna4Ever]

CarAndBike's SVP shared this picture of BMW i3s on Instagram. Link

P.S: Green registration plates. Read more about it here

[volkman10]

BMW i3 in Delhi. Not launching anytime soon.

BMW says it’s conducting a ‘market feasibility study’. Would you pay Rs 60 lakh for one!

Link

[drmohitg]

I spotted this car on the Delhi Gurgaon expressway couple of days back. It looked quite different from what we are used to seeing and definitely had a lot of appeal. But of course as mentioned above, BMW might just bring it for the name sake given the pricing structure.

[v12]

Spotted this in Mumbai today.

[Sahil]

Originally Posted by v12

Spotted this in Mumbai today.

This belongs to Soho House Mumbai.

[Kruz Nhux]

Spotted a White BMW i3s yesterday at Perungalathur, Chennai

http://youtu.be/PtPj2D0PWPo