BMW unveils Neue Klasse innovations and China-exclusive models in Shanghai

BMW showcases Neue Klasse tech, Heart of Joy system, and China-specific EVs at Auto Shanghai 2025. Explore future mobility with local innovation.

BMW is betting big on China. At Auto Shanghai 2025, the automaker unveiled how the Neue Klasse era is being tailored for the world's largest automotive market. On a nearly 5,000-square-meter stand, technologies designed specifically for Chinese consumers took center stage—from a next-gen interface to the high-performance Heart of Joy central computer.

China plays a pivotal role in BMW’s vision for Neue Klasse. While production of the all-electric iX3 on the Neue Klasse platform will begin in Debrecen, Hungary by the end of 2025, a China-specific version is scheduled to follow in 2026. It will be built in Shenyang, reflecting BMW's "China for China" strategy and a focus on local preferences. The BMW Brilliance Automotive plant is undergoing a $2.8 billion upgrade to support this shift, aiming for an annual capacity of over 800,000 vehicles. But it’s not just about manufacturing—BMW is deeply adapting products for Chinese customers. One standout example is the local version of BMW Operating System X, with 70% of its code developed domestically in collaboration with tech giants like Alibaba and DeepSeek.

The highlight of the show was the BMW Vision Driving Experience, a high-performance test vehicle designed to push BMW’s most advanced systems to their limits. Though not intended for production, this concept vehicle showcases the capabilities of the Heart of Joy, a lightning-fast control unit that manages braking, acceleration, recuperation, and partial steering with millisecond-level latency. BMW board member Jochen Goller noted that this system, one of four "super brains" developed for Neue Klasse EVs, will become a defining element in all future electric models on the platform.

The interface revolution continues with BMW Panoramic iDrive, a head-up display that spans the entire windshield. The version tailored for the Chinese market—developed in cooperation with local partners—brings enhanced AI capabilities, including a voice assistant powered by a locally trained large language model and DeepSeek's AI Reasoning technology.

MINI brought its performance edge to the stage with the debut of the new MINI John Cooper Works lineup and a China-exclusive MINI Cooper Convertible. For speed enthusiasts, the BMW M4 Edition Nürburgring—limited to just 53 units—offered bespoke design and 530 hp of raw power. Complementing the tech showcase were striking art collaborations: the BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA with color-shifting paint and Julie Mehretu’s 20th BMW Art Car, based on the M Hybrid V8 race car.

Auto Shanghai 2025 made one thing clear: the future of BMW is not only engineered in Munich but also imagined and realized in China—where technology, art, and driving passion converge.

Source: bmwgroup.com