We reported recently that Volvo was having to revisit its production schedules for its new EX60 SUV because of stronger than expected demand, including try to get its factory workers to plough through a week of their summer holidays. 

Now it seems that BMW is having the same issue, trying to boost production at its Debrecen factory in Hungary because of huge demand for its new iX3 SUV.

BMW chairman Oliver Zipse gave an update on the car’s performance as part of his annual conference speech – a sort of cheerleader rally for BMW shareholders, but with more pinstripes – saying that “demand for the iX3 is significantly exceeding our expectations”, and that “our order books for the iX3 are full and reach well into this year”. 

He didn’t give an exact number of orders that the firm has taken for the bold new SUV, but full annual capacity for the car at the Hungarian factory is said to be around the 150,000 mark. 

The iX3 started rolling off the line in October at the brand new factory, with production ramping up over a number of months. Orders for the car opened back in September 2025, but in the first six months of availability it seems that demand for Electrifying's Car of the Year for 2026 has reached well into the five figure mark. 

It was revealed in January that BMW had already added a second shift at Debrecen, and other factories in the BMW portfolio are set to shift to production of the new car in due course. Zipse revealed in his speech that the company will soon unveil a China-specific version of the iX3 that’s been tailored to the market and will be built locally. 

The news comes shortly before the second car in BMW’s new Neue Klasse range is revealed – the i3 is set to be an electric version of the company’s stalwart 3-Series model range, with saloon and estate versions on the way.