BMW of North America established a new quarterly benchmark in the third quarter, delivering 4,337 battery electric vehicles. The automaker is expanding its EV portfolio, expecting to boost sales even further with the BMW i7, set to arrive at US dealerships in the fourth quarter.
BMW achieves strong Q3 sales as EV deliveries pick up
In the third quarter, BMW’s overall sales grew 3.2% as the luxury automaker continued to see strong demand for its fully electric models.
BMW’s Chief Financial Officer, Nickolas Peter, said last week the automaking group had a “turbulent year” globally with lockdowns in China, lingering supply chain issues, and rising energy costs from the war in Ukraine.
Peter answered questions about energy supply by saying, “the gas issue will not have any direct impact on us this year,” although BMW expects to continue seeing pressure this year due to rising costs.
In the United States, BMW has no issues selling EVs, the only challenge is keeping up with demand. However, the automaker also believes it will take a massive leap in 2023 due to soaring demand for electric vehicles. As CEO of BMW North America, Sebastian Mackensen states:
The customer demand and enthusiasm for BMW’s electric vehicles has been there from the start.
After retiring the BMW i3, the first of BMW’s “i-series,” in January 2022 after a nine-year run, the German automaker revamped its electric brand. BMW currently offers two fully electric models in North America, the BMW iX UV and the BMW i4.
The BMW iX M60 Source: BMW
Increased availability of these models “fueled sales growth” during the third quarter as BMW delivered 4,337 pure EVs in Q3, including 1,727 iX models. The automaker expects US EV sales to continue picking up as Mackensen explains:
With the support of our dealer partners, we expect this momentum to accelerate through the fourth quarter, resulting in a strong finish to the year.
BMW’s first fully electric 7-series model (its largest yet), the i7, will arrive at US dealerships in the fourth quarter. The full-sized EV sedan takes luxury driving to the next level with massaging Merino leather seats, a Panoramic Sky Lounge LED roof, and much more.
Depending on when the i7 begins arriving, it may or may not show up in BMW’s fourth-quarter sales, but it should make a difference in 2023 as the automaker expects a big year for EV deliveries.
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For those who don’t remember, the rollout of the previous refresh was terrible. Tesla took orders for almost a year, but it waited for almost another year to start deliveries due to problems ramping up production.
Now, it appears that deliveries in Europe will occur within 6 months of the refresh and within weeks of ordering for most people.
That said, the mid-cycle refresh has been considered mild and isn’t likely to have a significant impact on sales.
I wouldn’t expect more than a few thousand Model S/X sales in Europe per year.
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Uber gets it. The rideshare behemoth has observed the upward trend of EV adoption across its database of customers and drivers and is helping to support that transition. Beginning today, the “Uber Green” ride option is now called “Uber Electric,” visible to all app users worldwide. To celebrate the transition, Uber is offering discounted rides for those opting for electric vehicles, and drivers may also qualify for a $4,000 grant.
At this point, Uber is a household name in the rideshare and logistics industries. Hell, it’s even a verb at this point. You don’t get this far without innovation and foresight, something the $200 billion company has excelled at to constantly evolve and adapt.
I recall when Uber initially offered only black town cars. Now you can order an UberX, Uber XL, Uber Comfort, Uber Eats, Uber Pet, rent a car, order groceries… the list goes on. In terms of electric vehicle adoption, Uber has long shown interest in the technology and quickly understood that EVs are ideal for the gig economy that comprises its market.
We’ve seen Uber partner with several autonomous vehicle developers, many of which operate fleets of electric vehicles. In fact, we’ve covered so many partnerships between Uber and other exciting mobility companies that we can’t begin to name all of them.
Today, Uber has recognized the dwindling incentives available to US drivers interested in going electric and has tweaked its rideshare offerings to promote more sustainable options.
Source: Uber
Uber Green goes full-electric worldwide today
According to an email sent from Uber this morning, Uber Green has been renamed Uber Electric. Per the company, the new name “reflects record EV growth on our platform, making it easier for riders to choose zero-emissions rides.”
Uber elaborated that over 200,000 EVs are driving on its global network, and 1 in 4 of its customers say their first-ever EV ride was through the Uber app (I hope it wasn’t in the back seat of a Model Y, because that’s a rough ride).
Today’s transition builds upon Uber’s decision to make Uber Green (a mix of hybrids and EVs) fully electric in the US earlier this year. Those parameters now apply to the entire rideshare network. Pradeep Parameswaran, Global Head of Mobility at Uber, spoke:
Uber Electric is more than a new name, it represents the real progress we’ve made toward electrifying our platform globally over the past five years. Thousands of drivers are leading the charge, choosing electric and helping cities improve air quality. We’ll keep supporting drivers by removing barriers to EV adoption and working with cities to improve access to charging.
To celebrate the transition to Uber Electric, the company is offering customers 20% off (up to $8) their next EV ride when they use promo code GOELECTRIC20 (valid for 7 days).
Additionally, Uber has recognized the expired federal grant of $4,000 for used EV purchases in the US and is keeping that incentive alive in certain states to entice drivers to continue to go fully-electric. The company’s “Go Electric” grants will offer eligible Uber drivers up to $4,000 toward new and used electric vehicle purchases, but only in the following regions:
California
Colorado
Massachussetts
New York City
Uber’s grant can be combined with other individual state incentives, making it easier than ever for drivers to go electric, depending on their state. Uber pointed out that US drivers nationwide can still receive $1,000 toward any new or used EV purchased through TrueCar.
Go electric! Opt for the EV option on your next ride and use that discount code!
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Tesla is recalling approximately 13,000 recent Model 3 and Model Y vehicles built earlier this year due to a battery pack defect that can result in power loss.
In August, Tesla started getting reports of power losses in new Model 3 and Model Y vehicles.
After reviewing 36 warranty claims and 26 field reports, the automaker identified a defect in some battery pack contactors that could potentially affect approximately 8,000 Model Ys and 5,000 Model 3s built in the US between March and August 2025.
Tesla wrote in the recall notice:
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The recall population includes certain Model Year (“MY”) 2025 Model 3 vehicles manufactured between March 8, 2025, and August 12, 2025, and MY 2026 Model Y vehicles manufactured between March 15, 2025, and August 15, 2025, that are equipped with a battery pack contactor manufactured with InTiCa solenoid.
If the battery pack contactor opens when the vehicle is in drive, it loses power and ability to apply torque, which may increase the risk of a collision – hence the safety recall.
The automaker identified Sistemas Mecatrónicos InTiCa S.A.P.I., a tier 2 supplier in Mexico, and SongChuan, a tier 1 supplier in Taiwan, as being involved in the recall.
Tesla confirmed that it is contacting all potentially affected owners and it will replace the affected contactor with “a certified contactor that does not contain InTica solenoid and that maintains coil termination connection” at no cost to owners.
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