[16] BMW's "Project i" is a program created to develop lightweight eco-friendly urban electric car concepts designed to address the mobility and sustainability needs for people who live in megacities.

The Mini E demonstration was the first phase of this project, and it was followed by a similar field testing that began in January 2012 with the BMW ActiveE all-electric vehicle.

The ActiveE was based on the BMW 1 Series Coupe and built considering the lessons learned from the Mini E trial.

[1][17][18] The automaker expected that its first series production all-electric drive vehicle would help it achieve an overall fleet fuel economy average of 6.63 L/100 km (35.5 mpg) by 2016, as mandated by U.S. federal regulations.

The first two production models are the BEV (battery electric) Mega City Vehicle, now called BMW i3, and a plug-in hybrid called BMW i8, which is the production version of the Vision Efficient Dynamics concept unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show and has an all-electric range of 50 kilometres (31 mi).

[21] Combined global sales of the BMW i brand models passed the 30,000 mark in June 2015,[22] and the 50,000 unit milestone in January 2016.

[24] As of December 2016[update], BMW expects a stable development in the plug-in electric market with low profits the next 5-7 years, until batteries have doubled their capacity,[25] with the goal to expand the share of its electrified models to between 15% and 25% of sales by 2025.

[6] Its CFO, Stefan Krause left to assume the global finance officer position at Faraday Future and he was joined there by Ulrich Kranz, the Project i's former manager.

[28][6] Krauze was also able to recruit an i-model designer, Karl Thomas Neuman while Carsten Breitfeld, the i8 development manager, left to join Byton as CEO.

[29] Referred as "Project i 2.0", the iNext was developed to address key questions for the future of motoring, with a focus on electrification, connectivity and autonomy.

[32] These models use the fifth-generation eDrive system that incorporates the electric motor, transmission and power electronics into a single compact central housing.

[37][38] The BMW i5, in both sedan and wagon body style, were announced in March 2023 and unveiled in May 2023 and February 2024, respectively.

The battery cells themselves will continue to use NMC chemistry and will be manufactured by existing partners CATL and EVE.

The goal of the NMC battery line of the New Class over its predecessor is to get 30 % more range, 30 % faster charging, and cost reduction by 50 %.

The goal of the company is to use plug-in technology to continue offering high performance vehicles while reducing CO2 emissions below 100g/km.

[60] In November 2016, BMW announced the company expected to deliver 60,000 of its electrified i and iPerformance models in 2016, and set a sales target of 100,000 units for 2017.

[65] Global sales of BMW Group's electrified vehicles passed the 250,000 unit milestone in April 2018,[66] and the 300,000 mark in September 2018.

BMW is offering a range extender ("REx") option powered by a 647 cc two-cylinder gasoline engine with a 9 L (2.0 imp gal; 2.4 US gal) fuel tank that engages when the battery level drops to a pre-specified point, acting purely as a generator to produce electricity to extend the range to about 240 to 300 km (150 to 190 mi).

[72] In May 2016, BMW announced that the 2017 model year (MY) BMW i3 will come with an improved battery pack with 50% more capacity (33 kWh) than the previous model with a corresponding range increase expected to achieve 114 mi (183 km) under the EPA cycle, and 195 mi (314 km) under the New European Driving Cycle.

[74] BMW invested US$100 million to build a plant in Moses Lake, Washington to manufacture the carbon-fiber reinforced plastic used on the vehicles' body panels.

[80] The first i3 deliveries to retail customers in Europe took place at the official market launch ceremony held in Munich on 15 November 2013.

[89] About 25,500 units were delivered worldwide in 2016, up 6% from 2015, allowing the BMW i3 to rank in 2016 for the third year running as the world's third best-selling all-electric car.

[59] BMW i3 sales since inception totalled more than 165,000 units delivered worldwide as of 2 January 2020[update].

[98] The production version of the BMW i8 Roadster was premiered in late 2017, and delivery of the first 18 exclusive first edition units took place in May 2018.

[99] The battery capacity of both models, coupé and roadster, was increased to a gross energy content of 11.6 kWh.

The production cycle ended with the last remaining units of the 200 Ultimate Sophisto Edition vehicles in June 2020.

[87][88] In 2015 global sales of the BMW i8 exceeded the combined figure of all other hybrid sports cars produced by other manufacturers.

The iX nameplate was chosen to signify the model's position at the top of the electric BMW i line-up and its role in showcasing technology.

[104] BMW plans the iX to become the basis for fleets of fully autonomous vehicles for highway use, and eventually to be available as Robo-Taxis in cities.

[2] Both cars will come with an aluminium chassis, and in the case of the i8, the windshield, top, doors and fenders are made from polycarbonate glass, with the body having a drag coefficient of 0.26.