BMW EVs Face Delay

BMW and EVs

Thinking about getting a new BMW electric vehicle? Right now might be the perfect time. Interest rates are still quite high, hovering above seven percent even for top-tier buyers, but a recent report hints that these electric BMWs may not be so easy to find soon, at least for a month or two. Word from Automotive News indicates BMW is hitting the brakes on EV production until possibly late May. This halt in production could mean the next three to four weeks won’t see any new electrified BMWs rolling out. However, there’s some good news: BMW reportedly plans to keep the pricing steady on their current stock at least until June, so existing vehicles won’t see a price bump just yet.

Reasons Behind It

Why is BMW pumping the brakes on EV production? The official report doesn’t dive into specifics, but it seems tariffs might be the culprit. While BMW assembles some vehicles in the U.S., their EV lineup is a different ball game. The i7, i5, i4, and iX—all those electrics come out of Europe. BMW has been busy upgrading their facilities there to allow both electric and traditional cars to be built on the same lines. The i4 gets built in Munich, while the rest—i7, i5, and iX—are assembled at the Dingolfing plant in Germany. So while they’ve got a solid production system in Europe, any hiccup with tariffs can send ripples across the pond.

Price Steady

Dealerships got the memo: prices are staying stable until June, except for the M2 and 2 Series—which are made in Mexico and might be hit by tariffs. There’s a new lineup called the Neue Klasse that’s also being prepped for production in Mexico, with plans for U.S. assembly starting in South Carolina by the end of 2026. Whether BMW is shipping more vehicles stateside to sidestep impending tariffs isn’t crystal clear, but it does seem plausible. Judging by the price shifts, maybe there’s limited stock of those models, and they’re largely created upon customer request.

Looking Ahead

BMW’s strategy often involves building vehicles to order, which keeps extra inventory low but might make them more vulnerable to market changes, like those potential tariffs. The way BMW is handling this up until the end of May shows that they’re unsure how exactly these tariffs will play out, given their current unpredictable nature. So if the idea of owning a BMW electric vehicle has been on the table, it might be a good idea to act soon before the landscape shifts and these electrified models become a rare sight for a while.