BMW readying i5 LWB sedan for India launch

BMW is gearing up to launch the long-wheelbase i5 electric sedan in India by early 2026, as confirmed by our sister publication, Autocar India. Set to be assembled locally at BMW’s Chennai plant alongside the iX1, the i5 will become the brand’s first locally produced all-electric sedan in the country.

The India-bound BMW i5 LWB is based on the China-spec long-wheelbase model and will be positioned above the current 530Li but below the performance-oriented i5 M60 within the 5 Series range.

For India, BMW is engineering several key changes to the i5 LWB, with a major focus on increasing ground clearance. Early testing feedback — highlighted during our i5 M60 review — pointed out that the model’s soft suspension and low ride height made it prone to scraping over speed breakers. In response, BMW reworked the i5 LWB’s chassis for Indian conditions, a process that pushed the launch timeline by almost a year.

The India-spec i5 is expected to be offered in eDrive40L guise, featuring a rear-mounted motor producing 340hp and 430Nm of torque, paired with a 97kWh battery. In China, this setup delivers up to 713km on the CLTC cycle, though BMW anticipates lower real-world figures in India. The company aims to strike a balance between efficiency and performance with this version, rather than chasing outright acceleration.

Expect more details on the made-in-India BMW i5 to surface as the launch nears.