Tentatively called the i1, the electric hatchback will become the brand\u2019s entry-level EV and serve as an indirect successor to the original i3 sold between 2013 and 2022. As for why BMW<\/a> is even bothering with an electric 1 Series when it already offers several Mini EVs, Bavaria\u2019s smallest car remains a popular product in the age of the SUV. Last year, nearly 200,000 hatchbacks were sold worldwide, despite the 1er not being available in North America.<\/p>\n 2021 BMW i Vision Circular<\/p>\n 2021 BMW i Vision Circular<\/p>\n The BMW i1 Is Coming In 2028<\/p>\n The i1 will arrive fashionably late, as the electric Audi A2<\/a> is due this year, and Mercedes is also preparing another A-Class. Of the two main rivals, only the latter will also retain combustion engines to compete with the 1 Series. As with the i1, BMW is also aligning the gas-powered model with the Neue Klasse design language and in-car technology, including a large central touchscreen and a windshield projection system.<\/p>\n This dual strategy has already been applied to the new i3 and the upcoming 3 Series, which is scheduled to go official in the coming months. Next year’s X1 and iX1 will also join the Neue Klasse family. Similarly, the recently teased 3 Series Touring<\/a> and i3 Touring will look strikingly similar inside and out, despite riding on different platforms.<\/p>\n BMW has long advocated for what it calls the \u201cPower of Choice,\u201d allowing customers to decide whether they want combustion engines or electric powertrains. Regardless of their preference, buyers will get the latest design language and technology rather than being forced into an EV to benefit from the company\u2019s newest developments. Consequently, the future 1 Series<\/a> will look as though it\u2019s cut from the same cloth as the i1, even if it continues to use an architecture developed exclusively for combustion-engine cars.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 11 <\/p>\n Motor1’s Take:\u00a0Managing such a diverse lineup from the bottom to the very top must be a logistical challenge. BMW believes it\u2019s up to the task and wants to give customers what they want, whether that\u2019s combustion engines or electric drivetrains. From the 1 Series\/i1 all the way up to the 7 Series\/i7<\/a>, there appears to be something for everyone.<\/p>\n At the end of the day, it\u2019s the only strategy that truly caters to all audiences. While some automakers rushed to put all their eggs in the electric basket only to realize the move may have been premature<\/a>, BMW remained committed to ICE cars while steadily expanding its EV lineup. That philosophy is likely to continue into the next decade, with a broad mix of combustion-engine and electric models.<\/p>\n It\u2019s reasonable to expect the new 1 Series\/i1, due in 2028, to be followed shortly afterward by a sedan sibling, with the next-generation 2 Series Gran Coupe<\/a> likely joined by a fully electric i2.<\/p>\n \n \t\tWe want your opinion!\n\t<\/p>\n What would you like to see on Motor1.com?<\/p>\n![\"<p>2021](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/germany\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/16x9-tr.png\")
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