BMW plans to unveil its first hybrid-electric model for the Chinese market at the Shanghai auto show next month. The model will be BMW’s first gasoline plug-in electric hybrid and will be based on the long-wheel-base variant of the 5 series mid-sized sedan, which is only available in China. “This model will be our e-car from China for China,” BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer said March 15 on the sidelines of the company’s annual results press conference. BMW began producing the new long-wheel-base 5-series in late 2010 as part of its joint venture with Brilliance in Shenyang.
BMW and Brilliance Automotive Co have a joint-venture deal in China, allowing them to build Chinese version of BMW 3-Series and BMW 5-Series. Both models are built in Shenyang. The Chinese can also buy a special version 5-Series, which has a longer wheelbase. The BMW 5-Series L (Long) is built exclusively for the Chinese market, and it seems that the electric 5-Series will have the same destiny.
