BMW i3 Electric Vehicle Will Debut With 3 Series Price Tag: Report

BMW's upcoming i3 electric vehicle will launch with a hefty asking price, if reports out of the US this week are to be believed. 

Entering as a more premium alternative to the slightly smaller Mitsubishi i-MiEV, the i3 will reportedly wear a price tag in-line with "a well-equipped 3 Series" model. 

That's according to industry paper Automotive News, who spoke with BMW US boss Ludwig Willisch. In the American market, Willisch's comments put the i3 at around the US$45,000 mark. 

Elsewhere, website Green Car Reports claims that BMW's Dave Buchko suggested a price tag between US$45,000 and US$50,000.

If accurate, these reports suggest the i3 could debut in Australia with a price tag above $70,000 - around the cost of a kitted-out 328i sedan, and well beyond Nissan's larger $40,000 LEAF EV. 

The i3 would likely also enter at a price above Holden's range-extended Volt, which is available in Australia at $59,990. 

Australian buyers also miss out on the tax credits available in many overseas markets, which - in the US - could drop the i3's price below US$40,000. 

Local launch timing for the i3 is still to be confirmed, although a 2014 debut is expected. For now, official pricing plans are unclear.