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BMW Just Unexpectedly Axed One of Its Most Forward-Thinking Models in America

The revolutionary iX wasn’t long for American roads, which is sad because it was actually a really great car.

Rear side view of a blue BMW iX electric SUV with modern taillights and alloy wheels at sunset.BMW
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By Chris Chin

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The BMW iX is dead. At least, it is in the U.S. The Bavarian automaker’s North American branch recently closed the order books on the model.

Speaking with a spokesperson, BMWBlog learned that the reasons behind the iX’s discontinuation in America comes down to its aging platform, especially with the Neue Klasse iX3 around the corner. But the iX will continue selling elsewhere in Europe and Asia.

Paving the way for Neue Klasse

Three BMW iX electric SUVs in black, beige, and dark blue parked on gravel between rustic wooden buildings with string lights overhead.
After a rather short sales run, the iX is being pulled from the US.
Chris Chin

The main reason why BMW pulled the plug on the North American spec iX is to make way for the impending influx of new, production Neue Klasse models. According to the spokesperson, the iX is essentially running on BMW’s aging and previous Gen5 electric drive system.

With 2026 being the year for BMW’s biggest and most revolutionary product rollout in quite some time, it didn’t make sense for the brand to continue selling the iX.

We are proud of what we have accomplished with the BMW iX. Since its introduction, it has served as a technological showcase, pushing the boundaries of design, manufacturing, sustainability, and circularity. Our success in the U.S. is driven by a broad and flexible powertrain portfolio that allows us to navigate a dynamic environment while continuing to evolve our lineup. As part of this progression, we are concluding U.S. allocation of the BMW iX as we prepare for the next generation of our fully electric vehicles.

We remain fully committed to electrification in the U.S. and are transitioning to our upcoming Neue Klasse models, beginning with the BMW iX3, powered by our latest Gen6 eDrive technology. This marks the beginning of the Neue Klasse era and the introduction of these technologies across our future portfolio, and we are confident these vehicles will surpass the expectations of customers when they enter the U.S. market in the coming months

BMW of North America Spokesperson

The BMW iX is actually a really great car

Matte black BMW SUV driving on a winding road with green trees in the background.
It’s a shame the updated iX didn’t have much of a chance here in the States, because it’s a really great EV and automobile.
Chris Chin

What makes this decision particularly peculiar is the fact that BMW revamped the iX for its mid-cycle refresh just last year. Introduced in 2021 as a 2022 model-year vehicle, the iX gained a facelift in 2025 for the 2026 model-year.

But before the model could finish its sales run here in the States, it’s being discontinued. BMW did say the iX will continue selling in Europe and Asia. Though, the company didn’t say for how much longer.

Matte black BMW iX electric SUV driving on a road with green foliage in the background.
Behind the wheel, the iX feels like any other BMW crossover, and that’s an excellent thing.
Chris Chin

It’s also rather unfortunate since the iX, when it came out, was a pretty darn good EV, all things considered. After it received its update, it became even better.

With lots of space, tons of power, the usual suite of BMW amenities and even respectable driving range, the iX more or less set the stage for many other EVs of its kind to follow.

But with Neue Klasse vehicles just around the corner, the iX will be succeeded by the incoming iX3 and soon-to-be-revealed iX5.

About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).

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