The banal piece that is forcing BMW customers to pay R$ 11 thousand more

BMW faces bottlenecks in the production of the iX1 electric SUV in Europe due to the shortage of a prosaic component: the basic 17- and 18-inch alloy wheels. Consumers who have scheduled to receive their units for the European summer will have to wait until the fall (between September and December), dealing with delays that can exceed three months. The situation directly affects the model that serves as a gateway to the German automaker’s line of electric vehicles.

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Shortages in June and the consumer drama

In an official statement to dealers, BMW reported that the stock of smaller parts will be insufficient from June. The Munich-based manufacturer did not detail the specific causes of the shortage by the supplier, but admitted internally that the logistical bottleneck will take time to be solved. The hiatus in deliveries generates a ripple effect for customers who linked the arrival of the new car to the termination of current leasing contracts or the delivery of their used vehicles as part of the payment, leaving many buyers temporarily without means of transportation.

Why are smaller wheels a favorite in electric cars?

Far from representing exotic equipment, the 17 and 18-inch rims are the most affordable standard items in the catalog, often chosen for their driving comfort and, above all, for their energy efficiency. In battery-powered vehicles, smaller diameter wheels reduce aerodynamic drag and unsprung weight, ensuring greater range.

While the iX1 shod with 17-inch wheels delivers 515 kilometers of autonomy, the transition to the 19-inch reduces the mark to 509 kilometers. If the driver opts for the 20″ ones, the range plummets to 491 kilometers. As an emergency solution to bypass the waiting list, BMW suggests that buyers migrate to the larger 19″ wheels. The obstacle, however, is that this change requires the acquisition of superior finishing packages, which makes the final bill more expensive by about 1,900 euros (approximately R$ 11,500).