BMW unveiled the iX3 Flow Edition featuring E Ink Prism technology in the hood at the Beijing Auto Show on April 24, 2026.
The vehicle embeds E Ink panels directly into the hood structure rather than applying them as surface patches, a change E Ink says makes the technology suitable for mass production.
BMW states the hood-integrated E Ink system has passed its stringent quality testing for automotive engineering and everyday use requirements.
The iX3 Flow Edition offers eight grayscale animations on the hood, controllable by the driver via a button.
This approach differs from earlier BMW concepts like the iX Flow and i Vision Dee, which used custom-shaped E Ink panels across larger vehicle surfaces but were deemed impractical for production.
E Ink describes the iX3 Flow Edition as the world’s first series-ready automobile to integrate its Prism technology into exterior autobody components.
The technology uses electrophoretic microcapsules that shift charged particles in response to electrical signals to change appearance.
BMW and E Ink have collaborated since the iX Flow debut at CES 2022, progressing through concepts like the i Vision Dee and i5 Flow NOSTOKANA.
The iX3 Flow Edition remains a concept vehicle and is not available for purchase.
What is E Ink Prism technology?
E Ink Prism is an electrophoretic display technology that uses millions of microcapsules containing charged particles to change color or pattern when exposed to electrical signals.
Why is embedding E Ink in the hood significant?
Embedding E Ink directly into the vehicle structure, rather than applying it as a surface layer, addresses durability and mass-production challenges that limited earlier concepts.