Jan 16, 2014 03:33 PM EST
44 BMW Dealers Won’t Offer The Electric 2014 i3 and i8

BMW has announced 44 dealers won't sell the electric-powered 2014 BMW i3 or i8 vehicles, according to BMW of North America President and CEO Ludwig Willisch in an interview with Edmunds.

While this means 329 U.S. dealers will sell the vehicle, most people might have to shop for the car in a big city instead of their local dealer.

Dealers that have decided not to sell the vehicle said it was because of the vehicle's size and location, according to Willisch.

"There might be some who just said, 'I am selling 200 BMWs a year and I am somewhere out in the boondocks," Willisch said. "Sales really don't make sense for me.' "

The i3 will go on sale in late April, and the i8 will be released in summer 2014.

The base i3 will be available for $42,275, including $925 destination fee. The i8 has been listed for $136,625 including the destination fee.

BMW said that sales team members and technicians will attend special training secessions.

"The technician has to be a certified high-voltage electrician," Willisch said during an interview at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show.

The i3 has a range of about 100 miles with a full charge.

The automaker made the i3 available for test drives at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this month.  

"People were really lining up and wanting to make sure that they got on the list to be contacted as soon as the car is available," Willisch said.

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