Sedans Forever, Says BMW: Despite SUV Takeover
BMW says it will keep building sedans even as SUVs and crossovers dominate sales. Board member Jochen Goller put it plainly, saying “ICE and combustion will never disappear. Never”. The company is not walking away from the classic three box shape that built its brand. This puts BMW slightly against the flow at a time when many rivals have shifted product and design resources to taller, utility first models that often carry higher prices.
Three platforms, one plan
BMW’s product map runs on three core architectures. First is the Neue Klasse platform, launched recently with the second generation iX3. This is a ground up battery electric setup that focuses on weight balance, aero efficiency, and new software. It is BMW’s main bet on electric growth.
Second is a dedicated combustion only platform for entry level markets. This keeps costs in check where charging networks are thin and buyers still prefer petrol or diesel.
Third is a multi energy platform for larger vehicles. The same base can take a fully electric powertrain for places like Norway, or a turbo petrol setup for regions with different needs. With this mix, BMW can keep developing engines while scaling EVs where it makes sense.
BMW also wants one design language across powertrains. Some brands split their electric and combustion cars into separate visual families. BMW argues that a unified look keeps recognition strong and avoids reinventing the shape every time the propulsion changes. This keeps the sedan identity clear whether it runs on batteries or fuel.
Same driving feel, whichever powertrain
BMW is applying a common control layer it calls the Heart of Joy. The idea is that steering, chassis response, and overall character feel like a BMW across the range. That includes Neue Klasse EVs and traditional six cylinder sedans.
The software ties the systems together so the brand’s driving DNA does not depend on the engine type. For buyers, that means the switch to electric should not mean a loss of familiar road feel. For BMW, it protects a core part of the brand promise while technology shifts under the skin.
Why stick with sedans now
SUVs deliver volume and margins for many carmakers. Even so, sedans still matter in regions where the shape carries prestige and where buyers want a lower, quieter highway cruiser.
BMW’s stance suggests it sees stable demand for the format over the long term, even if the share is smaller than before. Electric sedans built on Neue Klasse also help in markets that want traditional silhouettes with zero tailpipe emissions. Battery packaging, aero efficiency, and cabin space can be tuned without losing the three box look.
There is also a manufacturing angle. Using three core platforms reduces complexity compared with running many separate bases. Shared components, common electronics, and standardised software can cut costs and speed up launches. T
hat lets BMW put more resources into technology rather than maintaining a large list of platforms. Safety, infotainment, and driver assistance can roll out across sizes and powertrains without fragmenting the experience or doubling engineering effort.
Regional flexibility is a key benefit. Power prices, charging coverage, and policy timelines vary widely. With this setup, BMW can build an electric sedan where the grid and buyers are ready, and keep combustion options where adoption is slower. If a government changes targets or incentives, production can shift without ripping up the plan. If a market cools on one powertrain and warms to another, the model mix can adjust.
The approach also hedges risk. Some multinational brands have moved hard toward utility vehicles or electric only line-ups. BMW is keeping a balance. It protects the sedan design heritage while investing in EVs and keeping engines alive where they still sell. That gives the company a path through uncertain demand and policy cycles without betting the entire business on one outcome.