"While other electric efforts from both companies have been more successful, neither has been able to match the sleek software experience or low-cost basis of a Tesla. The iX3 and GLC are both attempts to right those issues. Both offer brand-new 800-volt electronic architectures that are built from the ground up to be updatable over the air and are packed with useful software features. They each offer better efficiency than previous attempts, too, and should cost less."
"The compact crossover segment is the biggest cash cow for luxury automakers. Vehicles like the BMW X3, Mercedes GLC and Audi Q5 have long been their brands' respective best-sellers. And while all three of the German luxury marques have tried to electrify this segment in the past, they all got off to a rough start. The first-generation BMW iX3 was alright, but it was built in China, making it impossible to sell profitably in the U.S."
The German car industry faces major challenges as Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes struggle with a rapidly changing auto market. Slower-than-expected EV transition and intense competition from Chinese automakers and Tesla have hindered progress toward software-defined electric vehicles. BMW and Mercedes unveiled the iX3 and GLC electric crossovers at the International Motor Show in Munich, targeting the compact luxury crossover segment. The compact crossover segment remains the most lucrative for luxury automakers, with models like the X3, GLC and Q5 as consistent best-sellers. Previous electrification attempts faltered, and the new models emphasize 800-volt architectures, over-the-air updates, better efficiency, richer software features and more mature design languages while entering a much fiercer competitive landscape.
Read at InsideEVs
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