BMW 7 Series Refresh

BMW used the Beijing auto show to roll out a redesigned 7 Series that brings its Neue Klasse electric technology into the brand’s flagship sedan for the first time. (press.bmwgroup.com) BMW said the updated 7 Series and i7 debuted on April 22, 2026, ahead of Auto China 2026, and called it the most extensive model update the company has made to the sedan. Production is scheduled to start in July 2026 at Dingolfing in Bavaria, with the market launch set for the same month. (press.bmwgroup.com) (qz.com) The electric versions use BMW’s sixth-generation eDrive battery system with cylindrical cells, and BMW said they can travel more than 720 kilometers, or about 447 miles, on the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure. The lineup also includes gasoline engines with 48-volt mild-hybrid systems, plug-in hybrids, and three M Performance models. (qz.com) Inside, BMW replaced the old dashboard layout with Panoramic iDrive, a display that stretches across the base of the windshield, and added a front Passenger Screen. Rear-seat buyers get an upgraded Theatre Screen that BMW said supports 8K streaming, gaming, and video calls. (qz.com) The Beijing debut puts BMW’s flagship sedan into the middle of a premium electric-car fight that is now centered in China. The 10-day Auto China 2026 show opens April 24 and runs through May 3 across two Beijing venues, with 1,451 models on display over 380,000 square meters, according to organizers. (autobeijing.org.cn) (scmp.com) South China Morning Post reported that Chinese brands including BYD, Geely, Leapmotor and Nio are using the show to push further into cars priced above 300,000 yuan, or about $44,000. JPMorgan’s Nick Lai told the paper carmakers are either cutting manufacturing costs or launching models that outperform rivals at the same price. (scmp.com) BMW has extra reason to make that case in Beijing because China has been a weak spot in its recent results. BMW’s 2025 annual report materials said the company’s first-quarter 2026 statement will be published on May 6, and outside summaries of the 2025 report say China sales fell in 2025 even as other regions grew. (bmwgroup.com) (best-selling-cars.com) BMW has sold the 7 Series since 1977, and this version keeps the sedan as the brand’s technology showcase while shifting more of the story to battery range, software and screens. In Beijing this week, those are the numbers and features luxury buyers are being asked to compare first. (press.bmwgroup.com) (scmp.com)