BMW launches iX3 in Tunisia while cutting 7,700 jobs amid profit squeeze

BMW announced the official launch of the fully electric iX3 SUV in Tunisia. The model, part of the brand’s Neue Klasse series, is offered with a 469‑horsepower dual‑motor setup, 0‑100 km/h in 4.9 seconds and a WLTP‑rated range of up to 805 km. It will be sold by Ben Jemâa Motors starting at 299,900 DT, with additional trim levels planned to address local tax brackets.

At the same time, BMW warned of a sharp profit margin decline for 2026, forecasting earnings of only 1‑3 % after a drop from 4‑6 % the previous year. The German automaker attributes the pressure to intense competition from Chinese electric‑vehicle makers, lower production costs in China, and higher energy prices linked to the Iran‑Israel conflict. In response, BMW plans to cut roughly 5 % of its global workforce – about 7,700 jobs – and reduce spending on research and development as part of a broader cost‑reduction programme.