Overview
- BMW confirmed on Wednesday that the eighth‑generation 3 Series (G50) will not be offered with diesel engines and that diesel variants are no longer available in the model configurator.
- The new lineup centers on the fully electric i3 plus petrol and hybrid options, with a plug‑in hybrid (PHEV) explicitly scheduled to return to the 3 Series in 2027.
- BMW has tied production and battery supply to specific sites: the electric 3 Series will be built in Munich, petrol and PHEV versions in Dingolfing, and batteries will come from the new Irlbach‑Straßkirchen plant with additional assembly in Mexico and China.
- Company spokespeople say the move is driven by portfolio strategy and uneven global demand for diesel rather than by current high diesel prices, and they emphasize this is not a blanket company ban because some models such as the X5 will keep diesel options.
- Journalists note that stricter emissions rules, the Dieselgate fallout and Real Driving Emissions testing raised costs for diesel technology through required aftertreatment systems like SCR catalysts and AdBlue, a shift that may push long‑distance drivers and fleets to choose hybrids, electric cars, or rival brands.