BMW X5 Electric (2026): What we know about this future BEV

  • The BMW X5 Electric is expected to be more conventional and cheaper than the iX
  • BMW Group Spartanburg Plant in the U.S. will make all future X5 models
  • Expected to be launched in late 2026 alongside the gas-powered new X5 range
  • Could be priced from USD 80,000, positioned below the future iX7

Update (November 20, 2024): ‘6th gen eDrive technology’ sub-section of ‘Specifications’ and ‘Design & Interior’ updated and ‘Plug-in Hybrid also in development’ added.

BMW Group plans to have at least 50% of its sales as EVs by 2030, requiring a significant expansion of its electric lineup. Key to achieving this will be electrifying core models like the X5. A fully-electric BMW X5, set to challenge the Tesla Model X, is already rumored to be in development.

The upcoming fifth-generation BMW X5, approaching 30 years since its 1999 debut, is set to go electric. According to Bimmerpost forum member ynguldyn, the new model (codename: BMW G65) will include a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) variant, likely called the ‘BMW G65 BEV.’ This will mark the first tailpipe emission-free X5 for global markets.

Specifications

CLAR Platform conversion BEV

The first-ever BMW X5 Electric would be based on a modified version of the CLAR platform, originally developed for combustion models. Thus, it won’t be a bespoke ‘Neue Klasse’ EV like the upcoming BMW iX3 (BMW G08) successor, as the Neue Klasse will focus initially on mid-size EVs.

The BMW X5 Electric might not be as space-efficient or high-tech as the Tesla Model X, but it’ll likely appeal to customers who prefer EVs that are rather conventional. For the BMW Group, faster development, manufacturing simplicity, and the easy road to profitability could be the advantages of choosing this route.

6th gen eDrive technology

The BMW X5 Electric, which could be launched as the New BMW iX5, may arrive in single-motor RWD and dual-motor AWD variants. Packing ~600 hp and ~600 lb.-ft. of torque, the range-topping variant, possibly called ‘M70,’ could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in close to 3.5 seconds. Don’t expect a full-blown M variant that goes head-to-head with the gas-powered next-gen X5 M, though.

While the BMW i5 sedan with its 81.2 kWh battery pack consisting of prismatic cells can travel up to 295 miles, its SUV counterpart should have a battery pack with a higher energy storage capacity that gives it a range of over 325 miles. Being an SUV, the X5 Electric may have installation space for a bigger battery, but the magic behind the higher range will likely be a new type of battery with a higher energy storage density, consisting of the brand’s next-generation, round cells integrated into the body structure, without modules.

Design & Interior

Recent BMW models have faced much backlash because of weird shapes and features, so we’re hoping the company has taken the outrage constructively and opted for a simpler approach for future vehicles, including the X5 Electric. In May 2023, Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President, BMW Group Design, told Top Gear that in the future, the company’s design will be cleaner.

According to a U.S. dealer who was one of the many in his fraternity to get a secret preview, the next-gen BMW X5 looks “mean,” Automotive News said in a report on April 9, 2024. The all-new X5 reportedly has a new X-shape design for the headlight assembly, which integrates the DRLs. This information suggests the X5 will once again maintain its European elegance and not hop on the split headlight trend like the BMW X7.

The battery-electric BMW X5 should feature a minimalist interior with wide touchscreens taking care of most functions that you’d operate using switches, knobs, joystick, and dials in older BMWs. We also expect an all-new head-up display with a clearer and more comprehensive information projection.

The BMW X5 Electric will come with a feature called ‘Ceremonial Light Carpet,’ as per a report BMWBlog published on October 8, 2024. We think it could be a new version of the Dynamic Light Carpet that BMW offers in the i5 and i7. Lastly, Level 3 autonomous driving functions might be one of the electric SUV’s most appealing technology features.

Release Date & Price

The BMW X5 Electric will likely debut in Q3 2026 and go on sale in the U.S. at the end of the same year. BMW Group will manufacture the all-electric SUV alongside the gas-powered next-gen X5 at the Spartanburg plant, as per Bimmerpost forum member ynguldyn’s intel. The company may price its Tesla Model X rival from under USD 80,000.

BMW steering wheel electric
BMW Group will invest USD 1 billion to upgrade the Spartanburg plant for manufacturing EVs and USD 700 million to construct the Woodruff plant to assemble EV batteries.

BMW Group plans to start producing no less than six pure-electric models in the U.S. by 2030. The company will commence production of the first EV in Spartanburg at the end of 2026 and use batteries assembled locally from a new factory dedicated to that component in Woodruff. Bimmerpost forum member ynguldyn’s information suggests that will likely be the BMW X5 EV, as it states December 2026 as the SOP (Start Of Production) timeline of the next-gen BMW X5 family.

Plug-in Hybrid also in development

BMW will offer the next-gen X5 as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle as well, aiming it at customers who appreciate the advantages of EV driving but cannot fully commit to an X5 without a gas tank yet. According to a BMWBlog report dated September 22, 2024, the company will call the plug-in hybrid variant ‘M60e,’ equipping it with an inline-six engine linked to an electric motor.

The X5 M60e will sport quad exhausts for sporty styling and could pack close to 500 hp and hit 0 to 60 mph in around 4.3 seconds. For the record, the 483 hp x5 xDrive50e does the same in 4.6 seconds. A significant upgrade could be DC charging capability, allowing customers to charge the battery pack from 10 to 80% in less than an hour. We expect the pure-electric range to be close to 45 miles, as per EPA estimation.

TopElectricSUV says

The BMW X5 Electric is expected to be a traditionally designed alternative to the Tesla Model X, co-existing with the BMW iX. Built with the high-quality standards one would expect from a ~$80,000 luxury SUV and the famed German engineering, the X5 Electric could be great for customers who seek a good-old X5 with a futuristic heart but without a polarizing design, flashy electronics, and a six-figure price tag.

BMW X5 Electric FAQs

What is the BMW X5 Electric’s release date?

The BMW X5 Electric is now expected to launch in the U.S. in late 2026.

Which models will be the BMW X5 Electric’s rivals?

What will be the BMW X5 Electric’s price in the U.S.?

We expect the locally-manufactured X5 Electric to be priced from under $80,000.

Featured image: 2024 BMW X5 M60i for representation.