BMW unveils i5 for the Chinese market

The 5 Series Sedan and the i5 for the Chinese market are produced at BMW Brilliance Automotive’s Dadong plant in Shenyang. The modified design features include gold accents all around, for example in the outline of the BMW kidney grille, on the rims and the window line. On the European model, these details are in aluminium look or black. According to BMW, the stylistic preferences of a young generation of customers in China, who value inspiring charisma and individuality, have been taken into account. Market-specific changes to the drive technology were not mentioned.

This is not the case with the charging technology, however: Since the Chinese charging standard GB/T provides for different connections for AC and DC charging, the China i5 has a second charging flap: the AC port is likely to be placed on the new charging port between the driver’s door and the front wheel, while the DC port is located in the “fuel cap” of the 5 Series Sedan above the right rear wheel.

BMW recently opened a new research and development centre in Shanghai and also announced an i5 for local production. BMW had initially presented the regular i5 in May and started series production at the German plant in Dingolfing in July. The market launch is scheduled for October.

Update 26 January 2024

BMW has started production and sales of the i5 in China. The BMW i5 for the Chinese market, which was unveiled in August 2023 and offers a longer wheelbase among other features, will be launched as the eDrive35L with prices starting at 439,900 yuan (equivalent to around 57,000 euros).

It will be produced at the Dadong plant of the BMW Brilliance Automotive joint venture in Shenyang. BMW also offers the i5 M60 xDrive model produced for the global market in China, which is imported and costs at least 639,900 yuan (approx. 83,000 euros). The i5 M60 xDrive built in Dingolfing has the same wheelbase as the European model and offers 442 kW peak power.

bmwgroup.com, bmwgroup.com (update)