2026 BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport Pro CKD launched – first CKD BMW EV, RM32k cheaper, from RM368,800

Launched today is the first locally-assembled (CKD) BMW EV in Malaysia and in the Asia-Pacific region. The BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport Pro goes for RM368,800, or RM392,300 with the BSRI five-year warranty and service package. As a CKD EV, it’s tax free until December 31, 2027.

This is some RM32k less than the fully-imported (CBU) eDrive40 M Sport, which first launched in Malaysia in November 2023 before getting a spec update in March 2024. That car cost RM400k (RM424k with BSRI) when CBU EVs were still tax free.

What hasn’t changed is the powertrain, battery and max charging rates. You still get one 313 PS/400 Nm rear motor (engage My Mode Sport and Sport Boost/Launch Control for the full 340 PS/430 Nm to help you do 0-100 km/h in six seconds). Ditto the 193 km/h top speed, 83.9 kWh NMC battery, 22 kW AC as per the 2024 spec update (0-100% in four hours 15 minutes) and 205 kW DC (10-80% in 34 minutes).

BMW Malaysia says there are “silicon carbide converter upgrades” and “new battery and thermal management technologies – including adaptive recuperation and an intelligent heat pump system that efficiently manages cabin, drive and high-voltage battery temperatures.” Thanks to these, the claimed WLTP range has climbed from 582 to 627 km.

The quickest way to tell the CKD car from the CBU is by looking at the grille – it’s now in gloss black (BMW calls it Shadowline) as opposed to satin previously, although the Iconic Glow illumination is still there. This is part of the M Sport Pro package, which the i5 M60 also has.

The 20-inch 939M alloys carry over too, but they now hide dark blue metallic M Sport brakes. Actually, the eDrive40 had 21-inch 954M alloys at launch; these sensational wheels disappeared in March 2024 and reappeared on the RM479k M60 in May of the same year.

There remain adaptive LED headlamps with vertical DRLs, but at the back, the LED tail lamps have been given the Shadowline treatment and there’s now a very thin gloss-black boot lid spoiler – all part of the M Sport Pro package. That just about rounds up the exterior changes.

Inside, we celebrate the return of the panoramic glass roof, which was dropped in the March 2024 spec update. The dashboard trim is now dark silver M accent with carbon-fibre and high-gloss silver threads (previously aluminium rhombicle) and the Merino leather seats are now in Atlas Grey (black and Copper Brown at launch, then Silverstone White became an option in March 2024).

Although the ventilated seats and the fabulous Crafted Clarity (crystal) iDrive knob we got when the car was first launched have not returned, everything else is as is, including the Curved Display (12.3-inch instrument panel + 14.9-inch touch-screen + head-up display), Interaction Bar with dynamic ambient lighting, powered front sport seats with memory and lumbar, four-zone auto air-con and wireless charging.

Also retained are the powered boot (holds 490 litres with seats up), interior camera with still-image and video capture capabilities (can be remotely viewed via the My BMW App), 18 Bowers & Wilkins speakers with 655-watt amplifier, and IconicSounds Electric (aurally crafted by Hans Zimmer, no less).

As always, you get Adaptive Suspension Professional, rear-wheel steering, TPMS (viewable via the My BMW App), six airbags and full ADAS including AEB, ACC with stop and go, and various lane functions. Tech wise, the 400V EV runs on BMW OS 8.5 with QuickSelect, and there’s charge-optimised navigation maps, ConnectedDrive services, intelligent personal assistant and Digital Key Plus with security-optimised ultra-wideband (UWB).

You can have your Malaysian-assembled i5 in Black Sapphire Metallic, Mineral White Metallic, Brooklyn Grey Metallic, Phytonic Blue Metallic or Oxide Grey Metallic. The first four colours have been available since day one; Oxide Grey joined in March 2024 together with Cape York Green Metallic and Fire Red Metallic, which means green and red have now been dropped.