BMW Confirms Extended Wheelbase X5 for China Launch in 2027

BMW is gearing up for the global debut of the next-generation X5, but it has already greenlit a separate model tailored for China. The Chinese variant arrives in 2027 and, per BMW, will again feature an extended wheelbase. In the local premium market, long wheelbases are no longer a luxury—they're nearly a prerequisite.

BMW CFO Walter Mertl revealed the launch during a Q&A after the company’s quarterly earnings report. He noted that Chinese dealers have already seen the new SUV. It will feature an ADAS suite developed in partnership with Momenta, a Chinese tech firm BMW previously collaborated with on the new i3 and iX3 driver assistance systems.

The global fifth-generation X5, code-named G65, is set to debut this summer. The Chinese variant reportedly carries the internal code G78. This isn't new territory for BMW—the current X5 (G05) has been sold in China since 2022 in an extended-wheelbase version (G18). The new long-wheelbase X5 will likely be assembled at the Dadong plant in Shenyang, which is also expected to build the first all-electric iX5.

Rumors suggest the iX5 could pack the largest battery of any electric BMW—up to 148 kWh. That underscores how seriously BMW is planning the next phase for its big SUVs. For China, it's not just about wheelbase. BMW must tailor its cars to local preferences: more rear legroom, more digital features, and voice assistants and services that perform well in China's driving environment.

A premium badge alone doesn't cut it anymore. Buyers compare BMW with Li Auto, Aito, Nio, and other brands that rapidly refresh technology and aggressively compete on price. In North America, BMW previously skipped long-wheelbase versions, but recently such models have started to appear outside China.

Whether the X5 G78 will follow suit remains unclear. If it doesn't, the brand's flagship large SUV will be the next X7 G67, which in its second generation will also spawn an iX7 electric variant.

The Chinese X5 G78 illustrates how the power balance has shifted. Where BMW used to simply import its global hits to China, it now has to create separate models—longer, more tech-laden, and better aligned with local buyer expectations.