BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport Pro Now CKD in Malaysia, First Locally Assembled BMW EV From RM368,800

KUALA LUMPUR: BMW Group Malaysia has introduced the locally assembled BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport Pro, a big milestone because it’s the first fully electric BMW to be assembled in Malaysia, and in the wider Southeast Asia region.

It’s BMW’s first electric vehicle to be locally assembled in Malaysia, priced from RM368,800.

And while the i5 name already carries that executive-sedan weight globally, this version leans harder into the “sporty business class” brief with a long list of M Sport Pro touches and a properly strong EV powertrain.

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The i5 keeps the clean, elegant proportions you expect from a modern 5 Series, long, low and tidy, but the details make it feel more aggressive than the usual executive fare.

Up front, the face is defined by the illuminated Shadowline Iconic Glow grille, paired with Adaptive LED headlights and those vertical daytime running light signatures. Around the back, the rear end looks sharper thanks to slim LED tail lights with a Shadowline finish.

Because this is the M Sport Pro variant, the visual upgrades are the main highlight. You get 20-inch M Aerodynamic Wheels 939M Bicolour Black Grey, an M rear spoiler in gloss black, M high-gloss Shadowline trim, and M Sport brakes in dark blue metallic. Practicality still matters, the boot is 490 litres, the rear seats split 40/20/40, and the tailgate is powered, so it doesn’t lose the “daily usable” part of the 5 Series brief.

Interior, BMW Curved Display, Interaction Bar, and a cabin that looks expensive

Inside, it’s modern BMW to the core. The dashboard is anchored by the BMW Curved Display, combining a 12.3-inch instrument display with a 14.9-inch touchscreen, and it’s the kind of setup that makes the cabin feel like a well thought out modern product, not just a car with a screen bolted on.

A standout feature is the BMW Interaction Bar, stretching across the dashboard and into the doors. It blends touch controls with ambient lighting and hides the vents in the process, which looks sleek and also tells you this car is meant to feel special at night.

M Sport Pro adds the expected cabin accents, an M Leather steering wheel, M seat belts, and an anthracite M headliner. Materials are where this version really tries to justify itself, with Dark Silver M accents, Carbon Fibre, high-gloss detailing, and BMW Individual Merino leather upholstery. There’s also a panorama glass roof with a retractable shade, bringing in light without turning the car into an aquarium when Malaysia’s sun is doing its thing.

Comfort kit is generous: electric sport seats with memory and lumbar support, Comfort Access, roller sunblinds, four-zone automatic climate control, and a wireless charging tray. Audio is handled by a Bowers & Wilkins Surround Sound System with 18 speakers and a 655-watt amplifier, backed up by BMW IconicSounds Electric, so the cabin experience is very much a “shut the door and disappear into it” kind of vibe. There’s even an interior camera that can capture stills and video, plus remote viewing through the My BMW app.

Performance, range, and charging, the numbers people actually care about

The headline performance figure for the BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport Pro is a rear-mounted electric motor producing 250 kW (340 hp) and 430 Nm, with 0–100 km/h in 6 seconds and a 193 km/h top speed.

It also gets updates aimed at improving efficiency and thermal control, including silicon carbide hardware, adaptive energy recuperation, and an intelligent heat pump system managing temperatures for the cabin, drivetrain, and high-voltage battery.

Range sits at 513 to 627 km (WLTP), and charging capability is strong on paper for the segment. AC charging goes up to 22 kW, quoted at 4 hours 15 minutes for 0–100%, while DC fast charging goes up to 205 kW, with a 10–80% time of 34 minutes.

Chassis tech is not an afterthought either. Adaptive Suspension Professional with Integral Active Steering is standard, and the rear wheels can steer up to 2.5°, aimed at making a big sedan easier to thread through tight spaces, while also feeling more stable and planted at speed.

Driver assists, parking tech, and connectivity that matches the brief

As expected for a premium executive EV, the i5 comes loaded with advanced driver assistance and parking aids. The driving suite includes adaptive cruise functions with stop-and-go behaviour, lane steering support, speed limit assist, side collision protection with active return, crossing-traffic warnings with braking support, and emergency functions such as lane assist and emergency stop assist. Parking support is equally comprehensive, with multi-view camera functions, 3D and remote views, plus drive recorder and anti-theft recording features.

On the software side, the car runs BMW Operating System 8.5 with QuickSelect, with navigation tailored for EV use, plus a full set of connected services. You also get modern convenience items like Digital Key Plus using Ultra Wideband (UWB), and a proactive service ecosystem that monitors condition-based servicing needs, supports accident assistance, tracks system error patterns, and even flags tyre condition early through digital tyre diagnosis.

Colours and key dimensions

Exterior colour choices include Black Sapphire Metallic, Mineral White Metallic, Brooklyn Grey Metallic, Phytonic Blue Metallic and Oxide Grey Metallic, paired with BMW Individual Merino leather in Black/Atlas Grey inside.

The bigger story here in our opinion is simple: the BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport Pro in Malaysia isn’t just another new variant, it’s the moment BMW starts building a full electric model locally, and it’s doing it with a 5 Series-sized EV that comes packed with performance, range, charging speed, and the kind of cabin spec buyers in this segment expect.

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