BMW would become the first automaker to offer a small engine as an onboard generator. By Stewart Burnett
BMW is evaluating the addition of range extenders to large electric vehicles as Chinese competitors gain market share with the technology, sources familiar with the matter have told Bloomberg. The automaker is considering range extender versions of top-end models including the X5 SUV and 7-Series sedan, which have sufficient space to incorporate a small engine functioning as an on-board generator rather than driving the wheels.
The development builds on previous reporting that emerged in June 2025 about BMW’s potential return to extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) after abandoning the i3 REx model years ago. China is the likely target market; local EREV sales grew nearly 50% across the first five months of 2025 according to China Passenger Car Association data. The country is a key market for BMW—even amid weakened sales and rising local competition—representing 29.2% of deliveries including Mini and Rolls-Royce. This exceeds combined volumes from the US and Germany.
EREV models from Chinese automakers (for example, BYD’s Yangwang U8, Aito’s M9 and Li Auto’s L9) have gained popularity in the SUV segment. The technology has also attracted interest in the US where customers err towards large SUVs for long-distance travel, with BMW’s long-wheelbase variants sold in both markets generally considered well-suited for the approach.
BMW already manufactures the components required for range extender systems including efficient small engines and gearboxes, which would reduce development costs for the technology. The company has not officially approved any range extender programme, with automotive supplier ZF reportedly collaborating with BMW on extended-range electric vehicle solutions.
“We continuously analyse usage patterns, customer needs and market developments and review the market potential of various technologies,” a BMW spokesperson told Bloomberg, neither confirming nor denying the report. The company would become the first German automaker to offer range extender technology, still relatively uncommon in European markets.
Elsewhere, Stellantis is preparing a range-extended Ramcharger pickup truck for the American market, while Volkswagen’s Scout brand plans rugged range-extended SUVs in coming years. Renault Chief Executive Officer Francois Provost has also indicated that the French automaker is including the technology in investment deliberations for its next business plan, echoing the sentiment that EREVs could prove a viable solution to the mid- to large-size vehicle segment.