ICE 4 is a brand name for long-distance Intercity-Express high-speed trains being procured for Deutsche Bahn.

In 2011 Siemens Mobility was awarded the contract for 130 seven-car intercity train replacements, and 90 ten-car ICE train replacements, plus further options – the contract for the ten-car sets was modified in 2013 to expand the trainset length to twelve vehicles.

Two pre-production trainsets had been manufactured by 2016, and were used for testing later that year, prior to the introduction of the main series in late 2017.

Around 2008 Deutsche Bahn began the tendering process to replace locomotive/coach trainsets on its long distance subsidiary, DB Fernverkehr's, InterCity and EuroCity train services.

[13] In 2015 Bombardier contracted Panattoni Europe to build an additional 18,357 m2 (197,590 sq ft) manufacturing hall for the Wrocław plant, initially to be used for the construction of the ICx trains.

[1] In 2020, DB announced a further order of a 13-car configuration, with increased passenger capacity and a higher top speed.

By 2013 DB had selected a site in Nippes, Cologne for a maintenance depot for all of its ICE fleet including future ICx trains.

[22] In April 2015 DB Systemtechnik began climatic testing on the ICx cab and other components.

[25] On 16 September 2016, Siemens announced that the ICE 4 had been approved for operation by Federal Railway Authority (Eisenbahn-Bundesamt, EBA).

In June 2023 the outstanding orders for the ICE 4 were fulfilled with the delivery of the 137th unit, a 7-car train.