BMW has started building near-series test vehicles for its first electric Neue Klasse SUV at the company’s new plant in Debrecen, Hungary. The model is expected to be called the BMW iX3, and the production trial marks the final preparation phase before series production begins at the end of 2025.

The Debrecen facility is now running complete vehicle production processes with the upcoming electric X model. BMW says the test vehicles pass through every production step, allowing the company to validate logistics, equipment, digital systems and employee workflows under real-world conditions.

Neue Klasse SUV production begins

BMW CEO Oliver Zipse said series production of a Neue Klasse Sports Activity Vehicle will begin at the Hungarian plant in just under a year. The Debrecen site is the first BMW facility designed and built specifically for production of Neue Klasse models.

These early vehicles are not yet full-volume production models, but they are close to series specification. BMW is using them to identify and correct potential issues before regular manufacturing begins. Parts and materials are already arriving daily, while production teams continue refining the assembly process and training on the plant’s machinery.

Milan Nedeljković, BMW’s board member responsible for production, described the first test vehicles as an important milestone for commissioning the new factory. The company says every part and manufacturing stage is being examined as it works toward a smooth start to series production.

What is the BMW iX3?

BMW has not officially confirmed the iX3 name or released detailed technical specifications in the supplied announcement. The electric SUV will be separate from the conventional BMW X3, which is already available with combustion engines on an existing platform.

The Neue Klasse strategy divides future architectures into several groups. NAx will support smaller rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive models, while NBx is intended for front- and all-wheel-drive vehicles. NDx will underpin luxury models with rear- and all-wheel-drive layouts, and ZAx is reserved for electric sports cars from BMW M.

The first NAx-based models are expected to arrive in 2025 and 2026, reportedly including the electric SUV likely to be known as the iX3 and a future i3 sedan. BMW has said that smaller i1 and i2 model lines using the NBx architecture will follow in 2027 and 2028.

Production timeline and next steps

BMW’s Debrecen teams will spend the coming months optimizing the plant based on lessons from the test run. That work includes synchronizing logistics, production areas, tools and digital connections across the facility.

Zipse also said a sporty Neue Klasse sedan will follow shortly after the SUV, with production planned at BMW’s main plant in Munich. For buyers, the Debrecen launch represents the first major step toward BMW’s next generation of electric vehicles, although the company has yet to announce the iX3’s powertrain, battery, range, pricing or market availability.