BMW iX Becomes the Brand's Best-selling Luxury EV in India

The electric vehicle (EV) line-up from BMW, which is still modest but expanding, has had some success in India. In fact, the German carmaker dominates the country's luxury EV market. In contrast to popular belief, the company's EV growth story is not being driven by the reasonably priced i4 vehicle but by the iX electric SUV, which has become the luxury automaker's best-selling battery-powered vehicle in India. One of three BMW-badged EVs presently available for purchase in India arrived at the end of 2021. There are four battery-powered vehicles offered in India by BMW Group, including the Mini Cooper SE. Although the firm chose to refrain from revealing precise sales data for its EV line-up, it has acknowledged that domestic EV sales in only the first half of this year are already 46% more than what they were in the entire 2022.

Also Read: BMW X5 Facelift Launched in India; Design, Features, Prices and More Explained

Meanwhile, BMW India recently declared that its sales for the BMW, Mini, and BMW Motorrad brands in the first half of the year, the first quarter, and June were the highest ever. Going into the details, 4,667 bikes were sold by BMW Motorrad in H1 – a total of 5,867 BMW and Mini units. In India, the company primarily sells the i7, iX, i4, and Mini SE, which together account for 50% of sales in the premium EV market. The BMW iX is both the best-selling luxury EV in India and the electric car with the most sales worldwide. BMW claims that in H1 2023, the brand delivered 11 times as many EVs as it did in H1 2022. A substantial EV charging network, including over 35 BMW Group dealers in India, supports the development of EV sales. So, without any further ado, let's know more about the iX model.

BMW iX: Battery and Power

The new BMW iX electric SUV is only available in the BMW iX xDrive40 level and comes in colours like Mineral White, Phytonic Blue, Black Sapphire, and Sophisto Grey. The e-SUV is propelled by the fifth-generation BMW eDrive system, which includes two electric motors, an electric all-wheel-drive system, and a single-speed gearbox. The unit can generate 326bhp of maximum power and accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in 6.1 seconds. The three driving modes – Personal, Sport, or Efficient – can be selected depending on the requirements of the driver. The BMW IconicSounds Electric produces driving sound and other pedestrian alerts.

BMW iX: Range and Charging Time

The iX features two high-voltage lithium-ion batteries with a combined capacity of 76.6kWh, which can allow the car to travel for 425 kilometres before needing to be charged. The batteries can be charged up to 80 per cent in around 30 minutes by a 150kW DC charger and in 73 minutes by a 50kW DC charger. An 11kW AC charger can charge it to 100 per cent in 7 hours, while a standard 50kW charger can charge the battery to a 95-kilometre range in 10 minutes and a 100-kilometre range in 21 minutes. Further, the model boasts a top speed of 200km/h.

Also Read: BMW India Registers Best-ever Half-yearly Sales in 2023; Sells 5,867 Cars, 4,667 Motorcycles

BMW iX: Features and Market Competitors

A hexagonal steering wheel, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a sizable 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment display, and a heads-up display are some of the new features added to the BMW iX. The car has also received a superb 5-Star safety rating from Euro NCAP. In the Indian market, the BMW iX competes with the likes of the Jaguar I-Pace, Audi e-tron SUV, and Mercedes-Benz EQC.