The i3 electric hatchback will be discontinued by BMW in the USA starting next month. This is the latest tiny vehicle to be sold by American car buyers who are obsessed with huge, tall, climate-killing SUVs and trucks.The i3 was BMW's first electric vehicle, and it was released in 2013. The i3 was intended to be more of an urban car than a vehicle for long distances. It had a range of 80 miles from a 22kWh battery and a modest 170 horsepower. After a 2017 update, the battery capacity increased 50 percent to 33kWh. This increased the range to 113 mi. Its futuristic, polarizing, and quirky design didn't make it a huge sales success, but it did gain a loyal following. The i3 was able create a niche in the nascent EV market. In fact, BMW has sold approximately 100,000 of them worldwide since its launch.BMW's first electric vehicle was the i3.However, its importance was definitely on the decline. BMW Blog reports that the US i3s inventory was at its lowest point in the past 12 months. Customers often had difficulty securing production slots. Only 1,052 i3s sold last year.A spokesperson from BMW stated via email that the US production of i3 will cease in July 2021. The spokesperson stated that the BMW i3 was a landmark in lightweight construction and electric vehicles at the time it was launched in 2013. The BMW i3 was not only the first purpose-built electric vehicle in the world, but also the first to use carbon fiber reinforced plastic and aluminium in its construction made it truly special.The success of BMW's i3 helped to lay the foundation for the release of the BMW iX SUV, and i4 sedan. These are the top two models in the late effort by automakers to regain its early sales momentum for EVs.BMW enthusiasts were disappointed to learn that neither the i3 nor the plug-in hybrid hybrid i8 sports cars have been replaced by the automaker in the many years since their release. However, the company is still working on the underlying electric technology. The next-generation tech will power not only the iX SUV or the i4 sedan, but also the China-made iX3 which is not yet destined for the US.The iX and i4 are more expensive than the i3, starting at $44,000. The base model i4 starts at $55,400 while the iX will sell for $83,200. Both EVs are expected to go on sale in the USA in early 2022.
