After teasing glimpses of its first all-electric 5 Series for weeks, BMW has globally debuted the first two available trims of the i5, including an M performance version with 590 horsepower. The German automaker has introduced a lot of new technology in its latest generation of its long-running series, including in-car gaming, a range conservation mode, and eye activated lane changes.
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Finally! The all-electric BMW 5 Series has arrived
We’ve been talking about an all-electric 5 series for six years now, but it wasn’t until recently that BMW began hinting at its inevitable arrival.
As a combustion model, the 5 series has been a staple in BMW’s lineup since 1972 and remains the German automaker’s second best-selling vehicle behind the 3 series. We saw BMW kick off its all-electric models with the i3, and the automaker has used that now-defunct EV as an appetizer to larger, better-performing models, like the revamped i4 sport coupe, iX SUV, and i7 sedan.
For months now, we’ve known an all-electric version of the 5 Series was in the works alongside plug-in and combustion variants, but we didn’t really get a feel for what to expect in the new i5 until late April when the sedan was seen enduring summer testing. Still, those images were camo’d.
Last week, we got our first genuine image of the all-electric BMW i5 which we can now recognize as the eDrive40 (seen below). Today however, BMW has pulled the entire veil off both all-electric 5 Series variants, and there’s a lot to get excited about if you’re a fan of the brand.
The electric BMW i5 is longer, wider, taller, and lit up
Boy are German automakers passionate about their work. Their pride in new features is apparent in their consistently “detailed” press releases that leave no tidbits of information left to the imagination. There’s only so much we can cover before you scroll on, so we recommend checking out BMW’s latest press release for all the details of the i5.
The new lineup of the 5 Series is larger all around compared to its previous generation. Its length has been stretched by 3.4 inches to 199.2, it’s wider by 1.3 inches (74.8 in total), and it’s taller by 1.4 inches (59.6 inches in all). As a result of the length, the 5’s wheelbase has been increased by 0.8 inches to 117.9, adding a tad of interior seating space, particularly in the back.
At launch, BMW will provide two all-electric variants of the i5 that feature the automaker’s fifth-generation eDrive technology. Customers can choose from a single-motor RWD i5 eDrive40, or an M60 xDrive performance model, positioned as the pinnacle of the entire 5 Series range.
The M60 variant especially showcases some new exterior features joining the 5 Series, including a black front apron with large air intakes, a grill featuring horizontal slats and the recognizable M performance logo, side skirts and exterior mirror caps finished in high-gloss black, and 19″ M light-alloy wheels.
BMW has also introduced an M Sport Package available to add to all versions of the 5 Series that includes an illuminated kidney grill framed in high-gloss black (seen above), M Shadowline headlights, and a rear spoiler. Customers can also add red calipers to the brakes if they just co choose.
Game on! The 5 Series gets an interior facelift
Moving inward, BMW has introduced a new fully-digital curved display which the automaker states now “represents the heart of the interior redesign.” The electric i5 models will come standard with a new Interaction Bar complete with ambient lighting in the instrument panel and door areas, plus a new gear selector switch in the center console.
The new frameless curved display is comprised of a 12.3″ information screen behind the steering wheel and a 14.9″ control display, merged into one high-resolution unit powered by BMW’s latest generation Operating System 8.5 – complete with a new graphic display, start screen, and “QuickSelect” access.
BMW says OS 8.5 offers more digital information and entertainment to future drivers, including new streaming programs and for the first time ever in a 5 Series – in-car gaming thanks to the AirConsole platform.
While the EV is stationary, the driver and their passengers can connect their smartphones using a QR code on the curved display, and use them as controllers to begin gaming instantly. BMW says AirConsole already has about 20 game titles including Go Kart Go, which looks similar enough to MarioKart that I’m surprised legal action has not been taken.
Anyways, you can game while you charge, nice!
Hands-free driving and eye activated lane changes
One of the cooler features on the upcoming electric i5 is BMW’s optional Driving Assistance Professional package, which includes Highway Assistant. This ADAS features enables the i5 driver to operate hands-free at speeds up to 85 mph where conditions and speed limits allow, as long as they keep their eyes up.
The driver’s attention is continuously monitored by an interior camera, and they are fully responsible for driving and anything that happens on the road, even when Highway Assistant is activated. That means this is still a Level 2 autonomy feature at best.
BMW has utilized its eye monitoring technology in a new and unique way that alleviates the need to activate a turn signal in order to initiate a proposed hands-free lane change. When BMW begins deliveries, electric i5 owners will be able to confirm the movement by simply peering over to the respective sideview mirror.
The i5 can recognize the visual cue, then perform the lane change at speeds again, up to 85 mph (traffic conditions and speed limits permitting). Can’t wait to try this feature out.
Specs, pricing, and an introductory video
Alright, it’s been a journey to get here, but let’s dig into how these two versions of BMW’s first all-electric 5 Series break down. As we previously mentioned, initial customers will get to choose between the standard RWD i5 and the dual-motor M variant.
The i5 M60 xDrive as well as an eDrive40 donning the optional M Sport package, come equipped with a shift paddle left of the steering marked “Boost” that can be tapped to activate the electric BMW’s full drive power and trigger maximum acceleration. The i5’s electric sound design also automatically shifts to “sport” to add to the sensory driving experience.
The single motor in the rear of the electric BMW i5 eDrive40 delivers a maximum power output of 335 hp and of 295 lb-ft maximum torque (317 lb-ft when the Sport Boost or Launch Control function is activated). Its acceleration from 0-60 mph is laggard 5.7 seconds and its max speed has been electronically limited by BMW to 120 mph. The automaker also described what the i5 M60 is packing:
Two highly integrated drive units on the front and rear axles, in which the electric motor, power electronics, and transmission are compactly combined in a common housing, form an electric all-wheel drive system that enables the BMW i5 M60 xDrive to deliver captivating dynamic performance. The electric motor acting on the rear wheels generates a maximum power output of 335 hp, while the motor at the front axle produces 257 hp. The total system torque generated by both motors is 549 lb-ft, or 605 lb-ft when M Sport Boost or the M Launch Control function is activated.
The new BMW i5 M60 is significantly quicker than the eDrive40, accelerating 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds. Its max speed has been electronically limited to 143 mph when equipped with performance tires (130 mph with all-season tires).
Like the motors themselves, BMW’s battery packs also make up its fifth-generation iDrive unit and consist of four modules with 72 battery cells each and three modules with twelve cells each. The modules combine for a usable capacity of 84.3 kWh and deliver the following estimated ranges and charge rates:
The i5 eDrive40 is estimated to travel up to 295 miles on a single charge on 19″ wheels (BMW estimated, not EPA)
i5 M60 xDrive delivers a (BMW) estimated 256 miles of range
Combined Charging Unit enables Level 2 AC charging up to 11 kW
The i5 can reach a rate of 205 kW on a DC fast charger, replenishing from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes
To help conserve range during dire situations, BMW has introduced a new drive system function owners can activate called Max Range. In this mode, drive power and top speed are restricted, while comfort functions are reduced to conserve battery power. Per BMW:
Max Range mode is primarily for critical situations where drivers are unable to recharge mid-journey where they had originally planned and must continue to an alternative charging point. The Max Range mode can be selected using the control display’s touchscreen functionality, the iDrive Controller, or voice commands to the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant. It can also be deactivated by full-throttle acceleration (kickdown), engaging the M Sport Boost function, or switching the window defrost to maximum.
Still with us? Almost done, promise.
The new all-electric i5 models will be be built at Plant Dingolfing, BMW’s largest European plant – which has been home to Series 5 production since its birth 50 years ago. The global market launch will begin in October 2023 with the all-electric versions and will be followed by plug-in hybrid variants in the US in 2024. Here’s how initial pricing will break down.
i5 eDrive40 – $66,800 (+ $995 destination and handling)
i5 M60 xDrive – $84,100 (+ $995 destination and handling)
Want to see more? Check out the introductory video of the all-electric i5 posted to BMW’s YouTube page today.
Are you into the first electric 5 Series? Is the eye activated lane change a gimmick or the future of hands-free? Tell us what you think in the comments!
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Is the ID.Cross the low-cost SUV we’ve been waiting for? The Volkswagen ID.Cross debuted at the Munich Motor Show with the “secret sauce” as an affordable, stylish new electric SUV.
Meet the Volkswagen ID.Cross, an affordable electric SUV
Volkswagen is gearing up to unleash a new family of affordable electric vehicles, including the ID.Cross, ID.Polo, and an even smaller, entry-level EV model.
As the all-electric sibling to its best-selling T-Roc, the ID.Cross arrives as what could be the most important Volkswagen EV to date.
Volkswagen showcased a near-production ID.Cross concept at the Munich Motor Show on Monday, boasting the new electric SUV has that “secret sauce” with a stylish new design and perhaps, more importantly, an affordable price tag.
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Andreas Mindt, Volkswagen’s design boss, said the new design is based on three cornerstones: stability, likeability, and what he calls the “secret sauce,” which will be showcased on every upcoming model.
Volkswagen pulled design elements from some of its most iconic nameplates, including the Golf and minibus, as part of the new look.
Volkswagen brand CEO Thomas Schäfer and the ID.Cross affordable electric SUV concept (Source: Volkswagen AG)
Measuring 4,161 mm long, 1,839 mm wide, and 1,588 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,601 mm, the Volkswagen ID.Cross is about the size of the current T-Cross. Mindt said the electric SUV appears to be “smiling” with new graphics and a 3D light signature.
Although it’s a smaller SUV, Volkswagen promises it’s still an “all-rounder” with more interior space than you’d expect, with 450 liters of boot space.
The interior is designed as “a feel-good oasis,” according to Volkswagen. It features a lounge-style layout with new materials and various modes, including light, sound, and climate modes.
Two display screens, a 13″ infotainment and an 11″ driver display, sit at the center. Like the VW Bus, you can fold the seats completely flat to give you an open interior space.
Powered by a new version of its MEB platform, Mindt said the improvements are key to offering electric vehicles with “above-average” features at an affordable price.
The drive system features a 208 hp (155 kW) front-mounted electric motor. Although Volkswagen has yet to reveal final battery specs, it claimed the ID.Cross concept has up to 420 km (260 miles) WLTP driving range.
Adventure-seekers will appreciate its 1,200 kg max trailer weight and a ball coupling strong enough to carry two e-bikes (75 kg).
Volkswagen will unveil the production version next summer. It will follow the ID.Polo, set to debut in the first half of 2026. Prices will be revealed closer to launch, but the new VW ID.Cross will sit below the ID.4, which starts at about €34,855 ($41,000) in Europe.
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Solid-state battery developer QuantumScape and business partner PowerCo, a battery company under the Volkswagen Group umbrella, just completed their first live demonstration of QS solid-state lithium-metal batteries powering an actual vehicle. In this instance, the energy-dense solid-state battery cells powered a Ducati motorcycle.
As you may already know, QuantumScape ($QS) is arguably the global frontrunner in bona fide solid-state battery development. Especially since the Silicon Valley-based company appears to be the closest in its segment to bringing full-fledged solid-state cells to the EV market at scale.
Volkswagen Group (owner of brands like Audi, Bentley, and Ducati) and its battery business, PowerCo, have been long-term investors in QuantumScape’s solid-state technology. VW Group has been testing QuantumScape’s prototype cells for years, and the technology received high praise form PowerCo.
This led to an agreement announced last year, giving PowerCo a non-exclusive license to mass produce QuantumScape’s solid-state technology. This led to an expanded partnership, as detailed in QuantumScape’s Q2 2025 financial report from July. PowerCo has agreed to contribute an additional $131 million over the next two years. In exchange, QuantumScape will prioritize QSE-5 cells manufactured on its San Jose pilot line to support the joint development agreement with PowerCo.
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Today at IAA in Munich, we saw the fruits of that development agreement demonstrated live for the first time ever. On stage, executives from QuantumScape, Volkswagen Group, and PowerCo unveiled an all-electric Ducati motorcycle, powered entirely by QSE-5 solid-state cells. Check it out.
Source: Volkswagen Group
A solid-state powered Ducati?!? Yes please!
The live demonstration occurred earlier today during Volkswagen Group’s press conference at IAA Mobility in Munich. Following detailed explanations of the technology’s development from experts at the respective companies, QuantumScape and PowerCo pulled the black sheet off the motorcycle, a modified Ducati V21L with QSE-5 solid-state cells.
The energy-dense solid-state cells in the Ducati were assembled using QuantumScape’s proprietary Cobra production process, marking the first time that the company’s anode-free cells moved from the assembly line into a real-world vehicle for the public eye to see. QS CEO and president Dr. Siva Sivaram elaborated:
Today we’ve crossed the threshold from possibility to reality. We believe that our partnership with PowerCo, together with Ducati as our demonstration launch partner, positions us to scale our transformative technology to gigawatt-hour production. Our world-leading battery innovation, combined with Ducati’s uncompromising craftsmanship and legendary commitment to performance, will help usher in a new era of electrified transportation.
The Ducati is a step toward commercialized solid-state electric vehicles, which, in its current iteration, can fast charge from 10-80% in 12 minutes (per QuantumScape). We’ve been following the progress of QS and PowerCo in the lab for the last three years, but it’s exciting to see the results of that hard work demonstrated to the public. PowerCo CEO Frank Blome also spoke:
The EV revolution is the biggest transformation the automotive industry has ever seen. Solid-state batteries will redefine what’s possible for high-performance, premium vehicles, and today’s historic demonstration is just the beginning. We’re combining QuantumScape’s world class battery scientists with PowerCo’s manufacturing expertise to bring game-changing solid-state battery technology to the world as soon as possible.
You can view VW Group’s full IAA press conference with the solid-state Ducati below:
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Tesla (TSLA) is seeing its US market share of the electric vehicle market drop to new lows in August, according to data from Cox Automotive, a research firm.
It’s happening amid a surge in EV sales in the US, following the expiration of the federal tax credit.
Tesla’s global sales have been in decline since a peak in 2023.
After declining slightly by 1% in 2024, Tesla’s sales are down roughly 10% globally in 2025.
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The American automaker’s sales in Europe are down by as much as 40% and in China, the world’s largest EV market, Tesla is down about 6%.
Only in its home market, the US, Tesla appears to be able to maintain its sales level, but that’s not expected to last.
EV sales are expected to reach a record high in Q3 2025 in the US, driven by the end of the $7,500 tax credit for electric vehicles, which will expire on September 30th. It is driving demand forward into Q3, and sales are subsequently expected to crash in Q4.
Every electric automaker is competing for the strong demand ahead of the end of the tax credit, and new data suggests that Tesla may be losing market share in the process.
According to new data from Cox Automotive, Tesla’s market share in the US was down to 38% in August (via Reuters):
Tesla, which once held more than 80% of the U.S. EV market, accounted for 38% of the total EV sales in the United States in August, the first time it has fallen below the 40% mark since October 2017, when it was ramping up production of the Model 3, its first mass market car, according to early data from Cox.
While it has been a while since Tesla dominated the US EV market with an 80% market share, the Texas-based automaker has maintained a 50%+ market share for an impressive number of years.
Tesla only started to lose its hold on the US market in 2025. The automaker’s market share in the US has been in a steady decline throughout the year.
By June, Tesla’s market share dipped below 50% to 48.7%, according to Cox’s data. Since then, it has been in a free fall, dropping to 42% in July and now to 38% in August.
Electrek’s Take
I always expected Tesla’s market share to drop over time as more EVs became available from legacy automakers and new entrants.
But I didn’t expect, or at least until the last 2 years, that Tesla’s global deliveries would decline during that time.
I thought that Tesla would continue to grow with the rest of the EV market, just with a smaller percentage of the market as the pie gets bigger.
However, that’s not what’s happening. Tesla’s deliveries are declining while the global EV market continues to surge.
Meanwhile, even in the US, Tesla’s market share is plummeting.
That’s what happened when you have a minimal and aging vehicle lineup facing increasingly intense competition, and your CEO is one of the most disliked men in the world.
Now, I know that the CEO and Tesla shareholders will say that it doesn’t matter because Tesla is somehow magically an AI and robotics company, despite almost all of its profits coming from the sale of vehicles.
The funny thing is that Tesla will end up having a strong Q3 because of the demand being pulled forward in the US, and I bet they will celebrate this even though it’s going to be purely because of the auto business and probably the last good quarter its auto business will have for a long time.
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