New BMW 3 Series: Eighth Generation Launches – Combustion Engine Models from Dingolfing, i3 from Munich
Dingolfing, September 30, 2026: BMW has unveiled the eighth generation of the 3 Series. The combustion engine models 318, 320, and M350 xDrive will roll off the line at the Dingolfing plant, while the fully electric i3 will be produced at the main Munich plant. Orders opened on September 30; series production in Dingolfing begins in November.
On 30 September 2026, the BMW Group unveiled the eighth generation of the 3 Series; the evening before, the new combustion engine 3 Series had been revealed during a special late shift at the Dingolfing plant. Two fully electric models are available at market launch: The i3 50 xDrive delivers 345 kW (469 PS) and 645 Nm, accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds, and achieves a range of up to 912 kilometres on its 108.7-kWh battery (WLTP); at a fast-charging station, it accepts up to 400 kW and can add enough charge for 423 kilometres in just ten minutes. The i3 40 xDrive offers 275 kW (374 PS), 82.8 kWh, and a range of up to 710 kilometres.
At launch, combustion engine variants are available exclusively as petrol models: the entry-level 318 starts at €49,900, the 320 at €54,900. At the top of the range sits the M350 xDrive with a 3.0-litre straight-six and 48-volt mild hybrid: 326 kW (443 PS), 0–100 km/h in 4.1 seconds, electronically limited to 250 km/h, from €80,900. A plug-in hybrid will follow later next year, with an M Performance model of the i3 also slated for 2027. BMW has been accepting orders since 30 September.
With the new generation comes a change in production: the combustion-engine 3 Series moves from its home plant in Munich to Dingolfing, where it is built flexibly on a shared assembly line with the 4 Series and 5 Series; the body shop makes use of the former 8 Series production area. BMW has invested around 350 million euros in the location for this purpose, with series production beginning in November. Munich continues to produce the i3 and will transition entirely to fully electric vehicles of the Neue Klasse in 2027; the high-voltage batteries will be supplied by the new BMW plant in Irlbach-Straßkirchen in Lower Bavaria. Head of Production Raymond Wittmann said in Dingolfing: "We have proven that Made in Germany can absolutely succeed."