- New BMW iX3 50 xDrive emits 23.0 tonnes of CO₂e over 200,000km using the European electricity mix.
- Charging with renewable energy lowers total lifecycle emissions to 14.6 tonnes or 72% less than a comparable ICE model.
- The vehicle is built using 33% recycled materials and emits just 0.1 tonnes of CO₂e during production.
BMW’s upcoming iX3 Neue Klasse doesn’t just promise quiet drives and zero tailpipe emissions - it backs it up with a TÜV-verified carbon footprint that’s among the lowest in its class.
Over a 200,000km lifespan, the BMW iX3 50 xDrive emits just 23.0 tonnes of CO₂e when powered using Europe’s typical electricity mix. That drops to 14.6 tonnes when charged exclusively via renewables: an eye-watering 72% reduction compared to a comparable petrol X3.
Key to this carbon diet is BMW’s sixth-generation eDrive battery. It packs higher energy density into a cylindrical format, requiring fewer raw materials than previous designs.
Cobalt, lithium and nickel - all major culprits in battery emissions - are now 50% sourced from recycled feedstock.
Under the skin
BMW’s commitment to circularity seems to go beyond buzzwords. Roughly 33% of the iX3 50 xDrive’s materials are secondary, including:
- 70% recycled aluminium in the wheels
- 80% secondary material in wheel carriers
- 30% marine-sourced plastics in the engine cover and underbonnet stowage
Even the Econeer seat upholstery makes a statement, using a mono-material PET blend to simplify recycling.
Add in optimised aerodynamics and reduced rolling resistance, and the iX3 is 20% more efficient than its predecessor over the WLTP cycle.
Built to breathe easier
Production at BMW’s new Debrecen plant is fossil-free, powered entirely by electricity - up to 25% of which comes from on-site solar. Each unit of the new iX3 emits just 0.1 tonnes of CO₂e during production, representing a two-thirds drop versus older BMW facilities.
All told, BMW claims customers can “break even” on carbon emissions versus an ICE X3 within the first 17,500 to 21,500km, depending on charging habits.
The upcoming BMW iX3 50 xDrive may be an SUV, but in the emissions stakes, it's proving to be remarkably lean.
