BMW has announced it has started production of its fully electric i5.

It comes as its Dingolfing plant, southern Bavaria, celebrated its 50-year anniversary this month.

Milan Nedeljković, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG said: “The BMW i5 and our plant in Dingolfing are perfect examples of how the BMW Group is transforming itself for e-mobility and developing our plants on the road to the BMW iFACTORY.”

The i5 uses the same eDrive system as the iX and i7. It is also built on the same architecture for BMW’s 7 series.

Plant Director Christoph Schröder expects launch of the new 5 series will boost production numbers. He said: “The BMW 5 Series has traditionally been Dingolfing’s core model and will provide valuable impetus for volumes again this time.”

Some have noted a pricing disparity between the US and the UK.

US prices start at $67,795 for the i5 eDrive40 and $85,095 for the i5 M60 xDrive. In the UK, consumers of the eDrive40 will have to fork out £73,000 – for the i5 M60, the price is topped at £96,840.

Deliveries of the i5 are expected later this year.