New BMW i3: recycled fishing nets and double shifts

16 March 2026

BMW is moving fast to fill the world with its next generation of electric cars. The German automaker is busy preparing for the launch of the new BMW i3, and it is making sure everyone knows about it. The new sedan follows the path set by the BMW iX3, an electric SUV that is already proving to be a massive hit with drivers.

BMW is changing how it builds cars from the ground up. The company calls this its "360-degree approach" to being green - it is looking at the car's entire life. BMW wants to lower carbon emissions from the moment it designs a part to the day the car is taken apart for scrap. For those worried about the planet, BMW claims the all-new i3 50xDrive becomes better for the environment than a gas-powered car after just one or two years on the road.

One of the most interesting parts of the new BMW i3 is what it is made of. BMW is using a lot of "secondary materials" - the recycled stuff. In the past, a BMW bumper was a complex puzzle of 15 different materials. Now, it's down to just seven. This change helped the company increase the amount of recyclable plastic in the bumper from 46 percent to a whopping 85 percent. It turns out that keeping things simple makes it much easier to recycle the car later.

The recycling trend continues inside the cabin. If you choose the "Essential" trim level, you get seats covered in a material called Econeer. This fabric is made entirely from recycled PET - the same plastic used in water bottles. BMW engineers even went looking in the ocean for parts. They use recycled maritime plastic, like old fishing nets and ropes, to make covers for the engine area and the storage space under the hood. Overall, about 30 percent of the entire BMW i3 is made from recycled materials, including the aluminum wheels and parts of the electric motor.

The "Gen6" battery cells are the heart of this new electric sedan. These batteries use recycled cobalt, lithium, and nickel. By using renewable energy to run the battery factories, BMW managed to cut CO2 emissions by about 33 percent for every watt-hour of battery power compared to their older technology. This makes the battery, which is usually the "dirtiest" part of an EV to build, much cleaner than before.

BMW is also giving its oldest factory a fresh start. The main plant in Munich has been around for over 100 years, but it just went through a massive four-year renovation. There's a brand-new body shop and assembly lines to handle the "Neue Klasse" or "New Class" of vehicles. Production for the new BMW i3 will start there later this year, and by 2027, the Munich factory will stop making gasoline engines entirely and will only produce fully electric vehicles.

The i3 is just around the corner, but the BMW iX3 is already a superstar. It has only been on sale for six months, and the company has already received over 50,000 orders. The demand is so high that BMW had to add a second work shift at its factory in Debrecen, Hungary. This plant can build 150,000 cars a year when it is running at full speed.

The star of the show is the iX3 50 xDrive. This model has a large 108 kWh battery and two electric motors. Together, they deliver 345 kW (463 hp) and 476 lb-ft of torque. On a full charge, the SUV is supposed to travel up to 500 miles, but we have tested it already and you can find the REAL numbers right here. When the battery runs low, it supports ultra-fast charging at speeds up to 400 kW, although that speed seems to be supported for a very short time.

BMW plans to expand the lineup - the cheaper "40" and "40 xDrive" versions with smaller batteries are coming. For those who want more speed, an M60 model with over 447 kW (600 hp) is on the way as well. There are even rumors of a high-performance M version coming in 2027 that could pack more than 596 kW (800 hp). To keep up with all these orders, BMW will build its EVs in China and Mexico as well as Europe.

BMW wants to be totally transparent about its progress. The company now publishes a "Vehicle Footprint" report for every car. You can even check this data on the My BMW app to see how much recycled material is in your car and what its carbon footprint looks like. The goal is to reach "net zero" emissions by the year 2050. By turning old fishing nets into luxury car interiors, they seem to be off to a creative start.

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