BMW Unveils i5 Long Wheelbase, Its First Locally Made Electric Sedan in India

Photo: IANS

BMW India on Friday unveiled the BMW i5 Long Wheelbase, the company’s first locally manufactured electric sedan in the country, as it expands its presence in India’s growing premium electric vehicle market.

The luxury carmaker has also opened bookings for the new electric sedan through its dealer network across India. The BMW i5 Long Wheelbase will be manufactured at BMW Group Plant Chennai, becoming the second BMW electric model to be produced locally.

The launch is significant for BMW as the company seeks to strengthen its electric vehicle portfolio while increasing local manufacturing of premium EVs in India. The growing demand for luxury electric cars has encouraged global automakers to bring more locally assembled models to the market.

Measuring 5,175 mm in length, 2,156 mm in width and 1,520 mm in height, the i5 Long Wheelbase is positioned as one of the largest and most spacious sedans in its segment. Its 3,105 mm wheelbase is designed to provide additional legroom and comfort, particularly for rear-seat passengers.

The electric sedan is powered by an electric motor producing 268 hp of instantaneous power and can accelerate from 0 to 100 kmph in 6.7 seconds.

A high-voltage 81.6 kWh battery powers the vehicle, with BMW claiming a driving range of up to 669 km on a single charge under the MIDC testing cycle. The range is aimed at addressing one of the key concerns among potential luxury EV buyers — the need for convenient long-distance travel without frequent charging stops.

BMW is offering the vehicle with a standard two-year warranty with unlimited kilometres, along with two years of roadside assistance. Customers can opt for service packages starting at three years or 40,000 km, with coverage extendable up to 10 years or 1,00,000 km. The vehicle warranty can also be extended for up to 10 years.

BMW Group India has also been promoting its financing services to make premium vehicles more accessible to buyers. Under its BMW Smart Finance programme, customers can access customised options such as flexible EMIs, reduced interest rates on selected models, assured buy-back schemes and greater flexibility at the end of the financing period.

The introduction of the locally manufactured i5 Long Wheelbase comes as India's premium EV market continues to expand, with luxury automakers increasingly focusing on a combination of local production, longer driving ranges and enhanced rear-seat comfort to attract Indian buyers.