BMW to introduce electric, hybrid i3s to Taiwan in June

Want China Times, Staff Reporter 2014-05-01

The BMW i3. (File photo/China Times)

BMW will introduce its i3 electric car to the Taiwanese market by the end of June, making it the first electric carmaker to sell to private car owners in the country.

Over the past three years, the Taiwanese government has been encouraging local carmakers to produce and sell electric vehicles to members of the public but while there are 11 companies producing electric vehicles today and 300 electric vehicles on the market, none are being sold to private owners due to the lack of a charging infrastructure and their relatively high price.

An anonymous carmaker said that they would not dare to sell electric vehicles to the public because they are afraid of complaints given the inconvenience of owning an electric car in Taiwan.

BMW, however, said that the i3 will be available on two platforms, including the pure electric i3 and the hybrid i3. The electric i3 will be sold at a price of between NT$2.4-$2.5 million (US$80,000-$83,000) while the hybrid i3 will sell for NT$2.9 million (US$96,000). BMW is expecting that 70% of the sales for the i3 will be the electric version.

BMW said equipment to recharge the battery will be installed at any designated location at the owner's request, while "i3-only parking spaces" for recharging the batteries will be established at all BMW's maintenance outlets across the nation.

In addition to the i3, BMW said that preorders for its i8, an electric sports car, have begun to be accepted with a minimum down payment of NT$1 million (US$33,000), while the sports car is being sold for NT$10 million (US$333,300). BMW said that they have received more preorders for the i8 than for the i3.

The company said that the cost of owning an electric car remains high so it is easier for them to target wealthier customers who don't mind trying new things.