BMW’s Most Polarizing Designer Is Now Working At A Chinese EV Company

SHABAZ PASHA

Plus, mass production of Volkswagen’s cheap EV might be pushed back by a year.

Chris Bangle of BMW fame is now helping Xiaomi design cars, and production of the Volkswagen ID.2 might not be fully ramped up until 2026.

This is AM Drive, Motor1’s daily look at the news you need before you get in your car.

Ex-BMW Designer Chris Bangle Helping Xiaomi Draw Its Future Cars

In case you missed the update, Xiaomi has ventured into the automotive realm, introducing its inaugural car, the SU7, a substantial electric sedan produced under a contract with BAIC. Leading the design team was Li Tianyuan, known for his work on the BMW iX. Adding to the surprise, Xiaomi has enlisted another former BMW designer, Chris Bangle, to join its car division.

Lei Jun, the chairman and co-founder of Xiaomi, made the announcement about Bangle’s appointment via X. Christopher Edward Bangle, renowned for his role as chief of BMW design from 1992 to 2009, brings a wealth of experience after contributing to designs for Opel and Fiat in the 1980s. Some of his notable creations include models featuring the distinctive “Bangle Butt,” exemplified by the E65 7 Series and the E63 6 Series Coupe.

Volkswagen ID.2 Mass Production Could Be Pushed Back To 2026

Volkswagen had initially introduced the ID.2.all concept last year, promising an affordable electric car set to hit the market in 2025. However, recent reports from Auto Motor und Sport, as cited by Automotive News Europe, suggest a delay in mass production to 2026. The relaxed Euro 7 regulations have provided VW with the opportunity to continue selling the Polo profitably beyond 2025. As a result, the German automaker is not rushing to replace it with the ID.2.

The postponement is said to affect mass production at SEAT’s Martorell factory in Spain, now anticipated to commence in May 2026. Built on the upcoming MEB Entry platform, designed for front-wheel-drive electric cars, the VW ID.2 is anticipated to have a retail price of less than €25,000 ($27,000). It’s worth noting that VW is concurrently developing a sub-€20,000 ($22,000) EV expected to launch later in this decade.

Despite the delay in mass production, the production-ready ID.2 is still slated for an official unveiling in 2025, with full-scale production potentially ramping up around mid-2026.