BMW Hits a Historic Milestone Signaling a New Era

For a brand built around the pure joy of driving, BMW leap into electric cars must have seemed daunting. The company’s identity has long been tied to the visceral experience of engines—its signature inline-sixes, known for their silky yet mechanical precision. Yet, embracing electric power has proven beneficial for Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, even without the familiar roar of a combustion engine. The German automaker recently celebrated a milestone, delivering its three-millionth plug-in model to a customer in Munich.

A 330e Marks the Three-Millionth Plug-In

Fittingly, BMW’s three-millionth electrified vehicle is a 3 Series PHEV. The sedan has been a bestseller for decades and helped define BMW’s reputation as a driver-focused brand. In the first half of this year alone, more than a quarter of all BMW vehicles delivered were electrified—a figure that, for the company, refers specifically to plug-in models rather than mild hybrids.

Sales of BMW electrified models continue to climb. In the first half of 2025, PHEV sales rose by nearly a third, while fully electric vehicle sales increased 16% year over year. Across the BMW Group—including Mini and Rolls-Royce—the company now offers 15 fully electric models and more than 10 plug-in hybrid variants.

BMW 1.5 millionth fully electric vehicle found its first owner in July. The milestone car was a Mini Countryman, built in Leipzig and delivered to a customer in Portugal. BMW noted that if all 1.5 million EVs sold since the launch of the i3 were lined up, they would stretch roughly from Munich to New York City—though the fleet might not fare well in a saltwater bath.

“With the delivery of the three millionth electrified vehicle, the BMW Group has reached another important milestone that underlines the fact that electrified vehicles are an elementary component of our technology-neutral product portfolio.”

– Jochen Goller, board member in charge of brands and sales

Quirky i3 Launched BMW’s Electric Era

When BMW introduced the i3 in 2013, it marked the company’s first mass-produced fully electric vehicle. The model sold over 250,000 units and even led to BMW’s first range-extender version. The i3 was unmistakably quirky, featuring a carbon fiber and aluminum chassis, clamshell rear doors, and an interior largely crafted from sustainable materials. Not long after, BMW followed up with its first plug-in hybrid, the i8.

Today, the BMW Group’s electric lineup spans from the compact Mini Cooper to the luxurious Rolls-Royce Spectre. The range also includes high-performance plug-in hybrids and EVs, such as the latest M5 PHEV and the i4 M60.

BMW electric sales are expected to accelerate as the company rolls out more models. Its upcoming Neue Klasse of EVs will feature new motors and platform technology, promising improved performance and longer range. The lineup will also move away from the brand’s signature “tall grille” design. The new X3 EV will be the first model in this series, and BMW plans to introduce fully electric M cars, starting with a likely M3 EV that could feature four motors and exceed 1,000 horsepower.