The Neue Klasse rescued BMW in the 1960s, and it’ll whizz the automaker into a new era starting from 2025.
Overnight the company announced it will develop a dedicated electric car platform, which will share the Neue Klasse name with the range of vehicles that saved BMW’s bacon in the 1960s.
The first car based on the architecture will make its debut in 2025.
The original BMW Neue Klasse (New Class)
According to Oliver Zipse, BMW CEO, the Neue Klasse will use a new software platform that supports over-the-air updates and local customisation.
As well as using new electric drivetrains and battery systems, the Neue Klasse architecture may also support hydrogen fuel-cell technology, which the company is developing with Toyota.
In addition to all of this, the platform is designed to be part of the circular economy with secondary recycled or upcycled materials preferred “wherever the quality and availability of materials allow”.
The platform and cars built upon it will also be designed so its parts can be recycled for use elsewhere.
BMW believes by 2030 half of its sales will come from pure electric cars, and it will have sold around 10 million electric vehicles in total.
Although BMW took a lead in the electric field when it launched the i3 hatch in 2013, it is the last of the major German luxury marques to commit to a dedicated electric car architecture.
The Mercedes-Benz EQS is scheduled for release later this year, and will see the debut of the MEA platform.
The PPE architecture being developed by Porsche and Audi will go into production with next year’s Porsche Macan.
