BMW’s 2026 iX is essentially sold out across the United States, with only about 10 new examples left nationwide. The electric SUV, which arrived in 2022 as BMW’s first dedicated EV of its kind, ends its run after the 2026 model year. Its successor, the iX5, is already being readied for production in South Carolina.
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Dealers no longer have much to sell. BMW’s iX landing page now redirects shoppers to the new X5, the gasoline-powered sibling that shares a name and a similar silhouette with the electric model it is displacing, even though the electric iX5 does not arrive until early 2027.
About 10 iX models left and a $4,925 price step
The inventory count comes from CarsDirect, where automotive editor Joel Patel reported that national listings show all but 10 new iX models gone. Patel wrote that BMW told Automotive News in April it wanted a flexible and broad powertrain portfolio when it decided to drop the iX, and Electrek’s April 14 coverage of that decision confirmed the iX would not continue in the U.S. beyond the 2026 model year. The iX went on sale in 2022 after a four-year development run. CarsDirect’s reading is that BMW dropped the model to make room for the iX5, whose claimed range of up to 435 miles beats the iX’s 364 miles by 71 miles.
CarsDirect also compared prices. A 2026 iX xDrive45 started at $76,325 with destination included, while the iX5 is listed at $81,250, a difference of $4,925. Electrek’s figures differ: it expects iX5 orders to open in November 2026 starting at $79,800. Neither outlet explained the difference, and no final U.S. price sheet from BMW appeared in the material reviewed.
iX5 60 xDrive: 144 kWh, 435 miles and a 464 kW peak
Electrek’s report on the replacement describes the iX5 as the direct successor and relays BMW’s figures for it. The iX5 60 xDrive carries a 144 kWh battery with an estimated range of up to 435 miles, compared with up to 364 miles for the 2026 iX xDrive 60. Dual motors produce 578 horsepower and 593 lb-ft of torque, good for 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds and towing up to 6,000 pounds.
The charging data is the standout. At a media event in Southern California, BMW demonstrated the iX5 on a public fast charger, and the October 20 report on that demonstration logged a peak of 464 kW. BMW says the vehicle adds up to 170 miles of range in 10 minutes and charges from 10% to 80% in 22 minutes, thanks to the 800-volt architecture and sixth-generation eDrive of its Neue Klasse platform, which BMW says delivers 30% higher charging speeds and range than the system it replaces.
Inside, the iX5 gets a 17.9-inch navigation touchscreen, a Panoramic Vision display spanning the windshield and an optional 14.6-inch passenger screen. It is 197.2 inches long, 78.7 inches wide and 68.9 inches tall, slightly longer and taller than the iX, with a more traditional SUV shape.
The comparison with rivals shows why the sell-through matters. CarsDirect noted that the 2026 iX undercut the Tesla Model X, Porsche Macan Electric, Mercedes-Benz EQE and Rivian R1S on price, while costing more than the Audi Q8 e-tron and Cadillac Lyriq. On range, the Rivian R1S was rated for up to 410 miles for 2026, ahead of the iX’s 364. A shopper wanting a large BMW electric SUV this autumn is down to roughly 10 leftover iX units nationwide.
Spartanburg assembly and the Neue Klasse lineup
BMW’s June 30 announcement of a $1.7 billion investment in its South Carolina operations named the iX5 as the first fully electric BMW to be assembled in the U.S., with assembly scheduled to begin at Plant Spartanburg before the end of 2026. Chairman Milan Nedeljković said completing the Spartanburg and Woodruff investments demonstrates BMW’s confidence in the United States, and the company plans at least six fully electric models built in America by 2030.
Another Neue Klasse model is already on order. The 2027 iX3 50 xDrive opened for preorders at $61,500 with up to 434 miles of EPA-estimated range and is a smaller, compact SUV, so it does not fill the iX’s size class, and BMW describes it as the first vehicle on the Neue Klasse platform with its Gen6 eDrive, new batteries and 800-volt architecture. The gasoline 2027 X5 40 xDrive is on sale now from $72,100, while the electric iX5 is expected in early 2027.
What remains unsettled is the gap between the final iX deliveries and the first iX5 handovers. BMW has not published a final price for the iX5, and the two reported starting prices, $79,800 from Electrek and $81,250 from CarsDirect, still differ. Production at Spartanburg is due to start before the end of 2026, with first deliveries expected in early 2027, so any gap between the last iX sale and the first iX5 handover will be measured in months and depends on how quickly that schedule holds.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by Morning Overview editors prior to publication.
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