The Tesla Model S sedan was the breakaway success that perhaps a select few saw coming. Now, determined not to be caught unawares a second time, several automakers are seriously considering pursuing an electric crossover to rival that company’s forthcoming CUV – the Tesla Model X – and rumor has it that BMW is on the list.
What Evidence Is There To Support A Tesla Model X Rival From BMW?
Well, Motor Authority reports that the rumor originates from German publication Wirtschaftswoche, and traces back to an unnamed source within the industry. Said source indicated to Wirtschaftswoche that BMW has a desire to develop a pure-electric SUV, as opposed to BMW’s Power eDrive plugin hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) setup, which soon ought to begin appearing on the automaker’s usual models.
We don’t read German, so we’ll take Motor Authority at their word.
Why Would BMW Build A Tesla Model X Rival?
For all sorts of reasons, not least of which is the (surprising) aforementioned success of the Tesla Model S. The S sedan has no known natural predators, as other pure-EV segment entrants like the Nissan Leaf tend to be less luxurious and lower-performance. The Fisker Karma, meanwhile, is extinct. But where automakers left Tesla Motors unchallenged with regard to that model, clearing the way for its meteoric rise, they still have a chance to capture some substantial market share with a Tesla Model X rival.
Plus, these automakers have been shown that despite the drawbacks, consumers will in fact respond to battery-powered EVs in large enough numbers to make it worth their while.
And then, of course, BMW already has the i3 and i8 models, although only the first of those is a pure-electric car. Now that the automaker has gone to the trouble of creating a new model line and testing the battery EV waters, they are perhaps better suited to introduce an SUV sibling, entering into a potentially lucrative new market.
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