BMW's best-selling EV will be phased out much sooner than you might expect

After launching the i3, BMW is apparently already getting rid of the i4, one of its best sellers, and not just in the EV segment.

The decision might seem strange, but it’s strategically sound for at least two reasons.

The first reason is obvious: these two cars are way too similar.

The second reason is a bit more complex.

Why BMW is already discontinuing its most successful EV

When the manufacturer unveiled the new Neue Klasse i3, we compared it with the i4 and wondered how they would price the new kid on the block to rival the OG.

BMW made a decision that feels obvious now, but sort of wasn’t at the time, and is simply considering removing the i4 EV from the line-up altogether.

Easy does it.

The decision makes sense when you look at these two cars; there are so many similarities.

Same size, same performance ballpark, and presumably the same price point, and so it made no sense for BMW to keep both.

However, it still feels strange that they decided to phase out the i4 already, mainly because the i4 is a best seller.

This decision is strategic

The German automaker made a decision that looks more strategic than tactical.

Tactically, getting rid of the i4 – one of the best-selling luxury EVs – is counterintuitive.

But, strategically, it makes all the sense in the world.

That’s because this is the second electric car built on the Neue Klasse platform, and the first one is doing great.

Unveiled in September at the IAA Mobility Show, the BMW iX3 EV has hit the ground running.

It’s sold out just about everywhere, including Europe.

In other words, the i4 was a great car, but it was built on the ‘wrong’ platform, because it uses a type of infrastructure that was originally designed for gas cars.

The i3 is virtually the same car, but it’s built on a future-proof platform.

That’s probably BMW’s thinking.

Time will tell whether the company got it right.