BMW has dropped diesel power from the eighth-generation 3 Series, codenamed G50, ending a run that dates back to the second generation (E30). The new G50 is offered with petrol engines, while a plug-in hybrid version is due to join the range in 2027. The fully electric i3 is also part of the eighth-generation 3 Series family.
G50 3 Series offered only with petrol engines
Speaking to members of the European press at the debut, BMW confirmed that the eighth-generation 3 Series will not be offered with a diesel engine. Besides the first-generation (E21), the G50 is the only other 3 Series generation without a diesel option. All other generations offered at least one diesel variant.
The G50 is available in 318, 320 and M350 xDrive forms. The 318 and 320 use 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engines with 48V mild-hybrid technology, while the M350 xDrive gets a 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-petrol mill with the same system.
BMW has not given a specific reason for removing diesel from the new-generation 3 Series, although it is likely in the interest of meeting increasingly stringent local emissions regulations.
Plug-in hybrid to join 3 Series range
BMW will add a plug-in hybrid version to the G50 range in 2027. Technical details of this version have not yet been announced. The fully electric BMW i3 is also part of the eighth-generation 3 Series family. The i3 40 xDrive and i3 50 xDrive are available with electric power, with claimed WLTP ranges of up to 710km and 912km respectively.
The result is a 3 Series range comprising petrol, plug-in hybrid and fully electric powertrains, with diesel no longer part of the new-generation line-up.
BMW’s shift from diesel to electrification in India
BMW’s changing powertrain strategy for the 3 Series is also reflected in its India portfolio. The company is increasingly pairing its petrol models with electric alternatives in India rather than offering diesel versions across these newer model lines. The 7 Series is available with a petrol engine, while the fully electric i7 is offered alongside it. The 5 Series LWB follows the same approach with the petrol-powered 5 Series and electric i5 LWB, while the X1 LWB is available with a petrol engine alongside the electric iX1 LWB.
None of these models is offered with a diesel engine in India. BMW’s electric models are therefore increasingly filling the role that diesel variants traditionally occupied as the more efficient option for buyers. The same transition is now evident in the new 3 Series in Europe, where the diesel has been dropped in favour of petrol, plug-in hybrid and fully electric options.
BMW India says electrification and its long-wheelbase range are two key areas of its current product strategy, with EVs accounting for 26 percent of its sales in the first half of 2026. The company expects the share of EVs in its sales to exceed 30 percent in the second half of the year.
BMW India has also seen some customers move from diesel to electric vehicles. The company says concerns around the long-term use and residual values of diesel cars have contributed to the shift in some markets, while it continues to offer diesel engines where demand remains strong.
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
