Yahoo Autos BMW i3 ends production with limited HomeRun Edition
After a decade and 250,000 units produced, it's the end of the line for the BMW i3. Production of the premium electric compact is winding down at BMW's Leipzig factory, but before it ends for good BMW is releasing a limited batch of HomeRun Edition cars as a sendoff.
With so many electric vehicles on the market (and on the horizon) today, it's difficult to remember that when the BMW i3 debuted 10 years ago, the EV selection was quite small. The most prevalent competitors were the Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model S, neither of which directly rivaled the i3.
The BMW i3 took on the shape of a new-age Isetta, a departure from the sports sedans and SUVs that the brand was known for. While it was known primarily for being BMW's first mass-produced electric vehicle, it also advanced the company's composite construction know-how with its carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) shell, and its aluminum chassis containing a battery pack and motor. Partly recycled materials were used in its thermoplastic skin, and BMW says that 25% of the interior was recycled material. Door panels were made from fibers of the kenaf plant, and parts of the dashboard were made from eucalyptus wood.
