BMW is conducting final testing of its electric iX5 SUV at the company’s Spartanburg facility, with the vehicle expected to debut in late 2026 or early 2027.
The fifth-generation X5 will be the first electric-only version of BMW’s popular SUV. Known internally as the G65, the iX5 features a massive 141kWh battery – the largest high-voltage pack BMW has ever installed in a production EV.
BMW hasn’t released complete specifications yet.
The iX5 weighs nearly three tons at 2,950 kilograms. The launch model – the all-wheel-drive iX5 60 xDrive – delivers 560 horsepower from its dual-motor setup.
Platform Strategy
Unlike BMW’s upcoming Neue Klasse vehicles like the i3 and iX3, the iX5 doesn’t use dedicated EV architecture. Instead, it’s built on the CLAR platform that also supports the i7 sedan.
This flexibility allows the X5 lineup to offer five different powertrains. Options range from traditional gas engines to mild hybrids, plug-in hybrids, hydrogen fuel cells, and pure electric power.
The CLAR platform supports 800-volt charging architecture. It also incorporates technology from the Neue Klasse program, including the Heart of Joy central control unit.
BMW developed this CCU specifically for electric models. The system combines drivetrain, braking, and stability functions to maintain the brand’s driving characteristics despite the added weight of EV components.
Market Competition
When it launches, the iX5 will compete against several premium electric SUVs. Key rivals include the Volvo EX90 and Genesis GV80.
The Range Rover Electric and Porsche Cayenne Electric are also expected to arrive around the same timeframe.
BMW’s Spartanburg plant opened in 1994 and will handle iX5 production. The facility will also build the iX7, BMW’s three-row electric SUV that’s planned for a similar launch window.
The South Carolina factory represents BMW’s largest manufacturing investment outside Germany.
