Gurugram: BMW India has opened bookings for the first-ever BMW i5 Long Wheelbase, marking another step in the German luxury carmaker’s localisation of electric vehicles in the country. The electric sedan will be produced at BMW Group Plant Chennai and will become BMW India’s first locally manufactured electric sedan.
The i5 Long Wheelbase will also be the second electric BMW to be locally produced in India. Customers can book the model through BMW’s authorised dealer network or register their interest on the company’s India website.
BMW is positioning the new i5 Long Wheelbase as an electric alternative for buyers seeking the rear-seat space and comfort traditionally associated with long-wheelbase luxury sedans. According to the company, it is the only long-wheelbase all-electric sedan in its segment and also the largest car in the category.
The sedan measures 5,175 mm in length, 2,156 mm in width and 1,520 mm in height. Its wheelbase stretches to 3,105 mm, with much of the additional length intended to improve rear-seat space — an area that tends to matter considerably in India’s chauffeur-driven luxury-car market.
Power comes from an electric motor producing 268 hp. BMW says the i5 Long Wheelbase can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds, respectable urgency for a car whose rear passengers may be more interested in answering emails than setting lap times.
An 81.6 kWh high-voltage battery powers the vehicle and provides a claimed driving range of up to 669 km under the MIDC testing cycle on a single charge.
BMW has also equipped the sedan with adaptive rear-axle air suspension and increased ground clearance, features aimed at improving ride comfort and suitability for Indian road conditions.
To mark the model’s introduction, BMW India will offer an i5 LWB First Edition, limited to 99 customers.
The First Edition adds a dedicated rear-seat entertainment package comprising a tablet and tablet holder. Inside, it receives BMW Individual Silver Bronze accents paired with Fineline open-pored fine-wood trim and a Silver Bronze inlay.
A distinctive “First Edition” laser engraving appears on the dashboard trim. The limited-run version will be offered in a specific configuration combining Carbon Black Metallic exterior paint with Titanium Bronze exterior accents.
The new electric sedan extends the 5 Series family into another important area for BMW India as luxury manufacturers steadily increase their electric portfolios while also expanding local production.
For BMW, local assembly of the i5 Long Wheelbase is particularly significant because it brings an electric sedan into the company’s Indian production programme for the first time. It also reflects how luxury EVs are moving beyond low-volume imported offerings towards models designed and configured more closely around local customer preferences.
With a long wheelbase, a substantial claimed range and a clear emphasis on rear-seat comfort, the i5 LWB will test whether Indian executive-sedan buyers are ready to combine their traditional preference for space with an increasingly electric future.
