BMW is planning to add range extenders to some of its larger electric models like the X5 and 7‑Series

BMW is working through a new plan to rebuild its position in China by exploring range‑extender electric vehicles, according to Bloomberg.

The company is looking at adding a small gasoline engine to charge the battery in some of its bigger electric models after watching Chinese brands pull ahead with this setup.

Reportedly, the X5 and 7‑Series are on the table because both models have enough room to fit the hardware without changing their layout or weight balance.

BMW and other German brands have been losing ground in China, where companies like BYD have flooded the streets with cheaper and more flexible electric SUVs. Range‑extender tech fits the habits of Chinese drivers who want electric cars but also want to avoid running out of battery on long trips.

U.S. buyers have similar habits, especially in states where drivers cover long distances and prefer large SUVs.

People familiar with BMW’s product planning allegedly said the long‑wheelbase versions sold in China and the U.S. match the space and customer needs for this type of system.

BMW studies demand as Chinese rivals scale range‑extender sales

A range‑extender uses a small gasoline engine to recharge the battery while the car moves, but the engine never touches the wheels. That role stays with the electric motors. BMW already builds compact engines and gearboxes in‑house, which cuts the cost of adding this extra system.

When asked about the shift, the company said it is “continuously analyzing usage patterns, customer needs and market developments and reviewing the market potential of various technologies,” but declined to explain what is under review.

The demand in China is hard to ignore. Range‑extender SUVs from brands such as BYD’s Yangwang U8, Aito’s M9, and Li Auto’s L9 keep gaining sales.

Bloomberg data shows extended‑range EV sales more than doubled in the past year and now make up 30% of plug‑in hybrid sales in China.

The tech is also spreading to the U.S., where Stellantis will launch the Ramcharger, an extended‑range version of the Ram 1500 with a projected 690‑mile range. Stellantis says the truck is being “built to pull an entire skeptical demographic” into electric driving.

Other carmakers are watching the trend. Volkswagen’s Scout brand is planning rugged range‑extended SUVs for the U.S. market. In the European Union, Renault SA is studying the technology for its next business plan.

Chief Executive Officer Francois Provost said, “For middle to bigger sized cars it makes no sense to force all‑electric models,” and added, “We need to think about clients, and range extenders are a good solution.”

Automakers adjust as EV costs and range fears push buyers toward hybrids with generators

The rise of extended‑range EVs is tied to two issues that keep buyers away from full EVs: price and range fear. An extended‑range EV plugs in like any EV but also carries a small gasoline engine that charges the battery automatically during a drive.

The engine never powers the wheels. Because this type of car carries a smaller battery, almost half the size of a fully electric pack, it shaves about $4,000 off the cost of the vehicle. With the engine keeping the battery charged on long routes, drivers do not need to stop at public charging stations.

While BMW studies this path, Tesla is dealing with friction in Europe. The company said on X that its “main path” to getting Full Self‑Driving approved is through RDW, the Dutch regulator that certifies vehicles.

But RDW rejected information Tesla posted online, pushing back on what the company shared about the approval process.