BMW Confirms LFP Batteries Will Join NMC in Neue Klasse EV Lineup, Led by Entry-Level iX3 in China

BMW Confirms LFP Batteries For Some Neue Klasse Electric Cars

The company’s boss reveals certain EVs will get lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries, with China’s entry-level iX3 leading the way.

BMW is preparing to expand its battery portfolio as it rolls out the Neue Klasse generation of electric vehicles. While the company has started its latest EV offensive with nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries, it will eventually add lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) chemistry to the mix.

Speaking during BMW Group’s Q3 2026 earnings call, CEO Milan Nedeljković confirmed that LFP batteries are coming, though their use will depend on the vehicle type and its intended purpose. Responding to a question about the company’s battery strategy, the number one in Munich explained that BMW is starting with NMC chemistry and cylindrical cells because it currently considers this technology superior in the market. He pointed to the impressive range figures achieved by the new iX3 and i3, including in China, as evidence that the approach is working.

However, BMW isn’t ignoring the cost advantages of LFP batteries. The CEO acknowledged that this chemistry offers a different cost structure but also comes with different range capabilities. As a result, the company will be selective about where it introduces the technology rather than offering it across every segment.

NMC And LFP Batteries Will Coexist,

With Neue Klasse, we are starting with the NMC technology and the cylindric batteries, and this technology is now superior in the market.

”We see that our range we can offer with the iX3 and the i3 are deeply impressing also in China, and that is why we start on that level. At the same time, and you are right, the LFP technology offers a different cost structure, but also different range. So we will add the LFP technology in our vehicles, but we will be very specific in which vehicle and for which purpose. And so it will come, but it will not be a generic exchange or a generic offer in all segments.”

In other words, don’t expect BMW to replace NMC batteries with LFP packs across the board. The two technologies will coexist, serving different purposes within the lineup.

The differences between the two technologies explain why BMW wants to keep both options available. NMC batteries use nickel, manganese, and cobalt in their cathodes. Their main advantage is higher energy density, allowing automakers to store more energy in a compact, lightweight battery pack. That’s particularly important for larger, more expensive vehicles where customers expect longer driving ranges.

LFP batteries, meanwhile, use lithium iron phosphate for the cathode, eliminating the need for nickel, cobalt, and manganese. This makes them cheaper to manufacture, with production costs generally around 20% lower than comparable NMC batteries. They also tend to last longer, resist thermal runaway better, and degrade more slowly over repeated charging cycles.

There are trade-offs, though. LFP batteries have lower energy density, meaning they need more space and weight to store the same amount of energy. They can also charge more slowly in cold weather. Consequently, NMC remains an attractive choice for vehicles where maximum range and performance take priority over manufacturing costs.

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BMW Confirms LFP Batteries For Some Neue Klasse Electric Cars, source