On March 3, BMW Group announced the official launch of the Year of the Horse Edition models of the 2026 BMW 3 Series, X3, 5 Series, and X5. All four models are built on existing variants, incorporating Year of the Horse theme elements into exterior and interior details.
In terms of exterior, these four models introduce for the first time on domestically produced BMW vehicles the Individual Frozen Gemstone Green paint finish. This matte-textured paint produces a visual effect distinct from conventional high-gloss finishes. Meanwhile, the vehicles are equipped with blackened wheel rims, with wheel sizes varying by model: 19 inches for the 3 Series, 20 inches for the 5 Series, 20 inches for the X3, and 22 inches for the X5.
Interior changes are concentrated in the details. All Year of the Horse Edition models feature exclusively designed door sill plates in gold and silver. The seat backs (on the headrests for the 3 Series) gain Year of the Horse exclusive embroidered logos. According to official information, this embroidery pattern was created by BMW Group's Designworks Shanghai design team, inspired by the galloping horse motif in Dunhuang murals. The craftsmanship employs two traditional Chinese embroidery techniques: flat satin stitch and tatami stitch.
This is not the first time BMW has launched zodiac special edition models in the Chinese market. In 2014, the Year of the Horse, BMW released Year of the Horse limited editions of the M5 and M6 Gran Coupe, with production limited to 30 and 6 units respectively at the time. For the 2026 Bingwu Year of the Horse, BMW has expanded this strategy to its domestically produced core model lineup, covering the product range from entry-level luxury to flagship, and from sedans to SUVs.
BMW delivered approximately 626,000 vehicles in the Chinese market in 2025, ranking first among traditional luxury brands. Among these, the 3 Series, 5 Series, X3, and X5 are the core pillars of BMW's sales in China. Since the start of 2026, BMW has adjusted the configurations of multiple models. In late January, BMW announced 2026 model year updates for several core models, making certain high-value features standard across all trims. The launch of these Year of the Horse Edition models is a further extension on this basis.
