Singapore. Mr. Rene Gerhard will take up the position of Managing Director, BMW Group Asia, effective 1 February 2026. Prior to his new appointment, Mr. Gerhard served as President & CEO, BMW Group Thailand in Bangkok for nearly two years.

Mr. Gerhard has been working with the BMW Group since 2002 and gained extensive experience in both the BMW retail and wholesale businesses in Germany before moving to the Asia Pacific region in 2016 to take on the position of Director of Sales at BMW India.  In 2019, Mr. Gerhard moved to Australia to lead BMW Sydney and MINI Garage as Dealer Principal for two years before taking on the position of Director of Sales and Dealer Development, BMW Group Australia, where he led the brand to the number one position in the Australian premium automotive market.  In 2024, Mr. Gerhard made a move to Southeast Asia to take on the role of President & CEO, BMW Group Thailand. 

Mr. Lars Nielsen, the current Managing Director of BMW Group Asia, will relocate to Munich, Germany after spending the last 11 years leading Sales and Marketing in Thailand and the Middle East Region, before taking on the Managing Director role in Singapore in 2021. In Munich, Mr. Nielsen will take up the newly established role of Head of Sales Steering & Strategy for Region Asia Pacific, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa.

“I am extremely excited to welcome Rene Gerhard to Singapore, where he can leverage his extensive global sales experience, to lead the diverse and dynamic markets that make up the BMW Group Asia region,” said Ms. Ritu Chandy, Senior Vice President Region Asia Pacific, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, BMW Group. “Rene’s extensive background includes sales roles in the BMW Group Niederlassung in Frankfurt and Berlin, and as Dealer Principal in Sydney, Australia for BMW and MINI. This experience gives him a deep understanding of dealership and importer operations, making him an asset to the region.”

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Lars Nielsen for his leadership and commitment to developing the BMW Group Asia region during his tenure,” continued Ritu Chandy.  “Over the last four and a half years, he has made a strong impact on how and where we do business. Under his leadership, BMW secured the number one position in the premium market in Singapore and is leading the premium segment across the BMW Group Asia region. Lars also oversaw the start of local production in Vietnam and helped guide the BMW Group Indonesia team in expanding its footprint for both the BMW and MINI brands across the country.”

BMW Group Asia comprises 14 markets, including Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Brunei, Bangladesh, Nepal, Guam, New Caledonia, Tahiti, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar.

-End-

Attached please find the CV of Dr. Nicolai Martin for download. 

Munich/Landshut. The BMW Group is presenting its next leap forward in the field of electric drive technology – and in the process ushering in a new era of all-electric driving. At the Tech Days event in Landshut, the company has provided some initial insights into the development and production of high-voltage batteries and electric drive systems using the sixth generation of BMW eDrive technology. Every fully electric Neue Klasse vehicle will enjoy the benefits. The first Neue Klasse model will go into series production later this year at Plant Debrecen in Hungary. Below is an overview of the technology highlights:

• The Energy Master intelligent central control unit on the high-voltage battery – developed by the BMW Group and produced at Plant Landshut.
• A new high-voltage battery concept that, together with the BMW cylindrical cell, promises to bring about a technological quantum leap – including significant improvements in energy density, charging speed and range.
• The BMW Group also demonstrates its technology-openness with electric drive systems – through the use of different electric motor types: SSM and ASM.
• A modular approach to electric motor production gives the BMW Group an exceptional degree of flexibility.
• The BMW Group pools together expertise from the entire electric mobility value chain in Bavaria and Austria – from development, via purchasing and production, to recycling.
• The BMW Group demonstrates both technology-openness and full expertise across all areas of electric mobility.

Adopting a technology-open approach while setting the pace in electric mobility

“For the BMW Group, electric mobility is the future and a key area of growth. We are leading the way with this drivetrain technology. At the same time, we are deliberately taking a technology-open approach, recognizing that mobility needs vary between different regions of the world,” explains Dr Joachim Post, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Purchasing and Supplier Network. “We want to offer our customers the best drive concept for every need. It is possible to do both: offer the best drive technology for every need and be at the forefront of electric mobility.”

Slimmer, faster, further: the high-voltage batteries for Gen6

With the new sixth-generation BMW eDrive technology (Gen6 for short), the BMW Group is making a technological quantum leap. Improvements on the product side include a 30% faster charging speed and 30% increase in range, with certain models achieving even higher figures. Added to which, the Gen6 high-voltage battery concept benefits from the new 800V technology. Gen6 will make its debut this year in the Neue Klasse and subsequently be used to drive models across the BMW Group’s fully electric product range. The concept for the Gen6 high-voltage batteries is fundamentally new and will find applications in all vehicle segments – right up to the high-performance models from BMW M GmbH. Its new, even slimmer design allows the high-voltage battery to be integrated into a spread of different models, regardless of vehicle height. The high-voltage battery takes on the role of a structural component in the bodies of the Neue Klasse models (“pack-to-open-body”), and the new cylindrical cells will be integrated directly into the high-voltage battery (“cell-to-pack”). The new BMW cylindrical cell has a 20% greater energy density than its predecessor, the Gen5 prismatic battery cell. And charging in both directions will be possible: the BMW Group has confirmed bidirectional charging as standard for Gen6.

Highly intelligent central control unit: the BMW Energy Master

All of the elements that enable this technological leap forward come together in the BMW Energy Master. This central control unit is positioned on the high-voltage battery and provides the interface for high- and low-voltage power supply and for data from the high-voltage battery. It also controls the power supply for the electric motor and vehicle electrical system and ensures the safe and intelligent operation of the high-voltage battery. The BMW Group has filed a whole series of new patent applications for the vehicle electrical system, including its electronic fuses. Both the hardware and software of the Energy Master were developed fully in-house at the BMW Group. This ensures technological developments and updates for vehicles can be implemented independently and in real time via Remote Software Upgrades, providing a particular benefit for customers.

“Local for local” approach for high-voltage battery assembly and supplier network

The high-voltage batteries for the Neue Klasse are assembled in five new production facilities that the BMW Group has located close to its vehicle plants as part of a “local for local” approach. For example, cutting-edge assembly locations for Gen6 high-voltage batteries are taking shape in Irlbach-Straßkirchen (Lower Bavaria), Debrecen (Hungary), Shenyang (China), San Luis Potosí (Mexico) and Woodruff, near Spartanburg (USA). This approach safeguards production even in the event of unforeseen political and economic events. In addition, the existing locations are being strengthened, with jobs both secured and created. The “local for local” principle continues in the supplier network for battery cells: in order to cover the demand for Gen6, the BMW Group has reached contractual agreements for five battery cell factories – spread across Europe, China and the USA – with various partners.

“Cell-to-pack” and “pack-to-open-body”

Production of the Gen6 high-voltage batteries follows the “cell-to-pack” and “pack-to-open-body” principles. “Cell-to-pack” involves positioning the cylindrical cells – manufactured by the suppliers according to BMW Group specifications – directly in the housing of the high-voltage battery, without the intermediate step of a module being produced. “Pack-to-open-body” refers to the high-voltage battery’s new role as a structural component in the vehicle architecture. Numerous innovations patented by the BMW Group can be found here.

Know-how from Bavaria and Austria – in demand around the world

Before series production of the high-voltage batteries gets underway worldwide, the production processes will be developed and pre-series batteries subjected to thorough testing. This will happen at the BMW Group pilot plants for high-voltage batteries in Parsdorf, Hallbergmoos and Munich. The new series production plants around the world will then be ready. The product and process expertise is centred in Bavaria. Production of the Energy Master will take place at Plant Landshut, which will then supply all the high-voltage battery assembly plants around the world. There, the highly intelligent control unit will be installed on the high-voltage battery. The electric motor with sixth-generation BMW eDrive technology is produced at Plant Steyr in Austria, which is also home to a development centre for electric drive systems and thermal management.

Production of the Energy Master at BMW Group Plant Landshut  

A state-of-the-art production system for the BMW Energy Master is taking shape at Plant Landshut. The plant is currently producing the highly complex control unit in pre-series. Series production on the first production line will begin in August 2025, with a further expansion stage to follow in mid-2026. This is the first time the development and production of this central control unit has taken place in-house at the BMW Group. “As the company’s largest in-house component manufacturer, Landshut plays an important role for the Neue Klasse,” says Dr Joachim Post. “The plant is an innovation hub and a driver of transformation.” Around 200 people will be employed in the Energy Master production area at Landshut when production begins, rising to as many as 700 people as it ramps up further. The BMW Group has channelled investment in the high hundreds of millions of euros into the expansion of electric mobility at Plant Landshut since 2020, strengthening both the production facility itself and Germany’s status as an industrial powerhouse for the long term. The modular manufacturing system used to produce the Energy Master was also designed fully in-house by the BMW Group. It is supplied with subcomponents by a supply chain set up by the BMW Group. This extends to the n-tier supply chain for supply-critical components such as semiconductors. The benefits of this set-up can be seen in terms of both costs and supply security. The scalable production system enables the company to respond quickly and flexibly to market requirements. The high degree of automation, involving up to 400 robots in the final expansion stage, maximises efficiency. Comprehensive in-process monitoring, which includes the use of AI-based camera systems, and 100-per-cent end-of-line system checks in a clean-room environment ensure optimum quality.

Different recycling processes within the value chain

As electric mobility ramps up, there is an increasing focus on recycling of high-voltage batteries at the end of their lifecycle. Under a long-term partnership with SK tes – a leading provider of innovative technology lifecycle solutions – cobalt, nickel and lithium from end-of-life batteries are recovered from the BMW Group and integrated into the supply chain for the manufacture of new batteries. This closed-loop approach increases the efficiency and resilience of the BMW Group as part of a circular economy. The BMW Group will follow a similar path in the USA, Mexico and Canada up to 2026 with a separate partnership.

Innovative direct recycling at the BMW Group

The BMW Group is also exploring other recycling options in the value creation process. One example of this is the direct recycling method developed in-house. The BMW Group is working with its joint venture Encory to set up a competence centre for battery cell recycling in Lower Bavaria, where the company will put its direct recycling ideas into practice. This innovative process will enable residual materials from battery cell production and whole battery cells to be mechanically broken down into their valuable constituent components. The raw materials obtained in this way will be re-used directly in the pilot production process for battery cells at the company’s competence centres.

Technology-open approach for electric mobility: the new e-drive system of Gen6

The BMW Group has retained the principle of an electrically excited synchronous motor (EESM) for its Gen6 power unit. On this type of synchronous motor, the magnetic field in the rotor is generated by windings fed with direct current rather than permanent magnets. In this way, the strength of the rotor’s magnetic field can be optimally adjusted to the prevailing load conditions. This results in both excellent levels of efficiency at customer-relevant operating points and constant power output at high rotational speeds. As with the Gen5 version, the synchronous motor will be positioned above the rear axle and feature a compact housing incorporating the electric drive unit, power electronics and transmission. Many of the motor’s technical details were created with the help of patented expertise, with the non-potted rotor alone accounting for more than ten patent applications.

Neue Klasse additionally incorporates ASM technology

The Gen6 powertrain employs a second, additional electric motor technology in the form of the asynchronous motor (ASM). Here, instead of being generated by permanent magnets (PSM) or electrical excitation (EESM), the rotor’s magnetic field is induced by the stator. On this type of motor, the rotor takes the form of a metal cage. The asynchronous motor offers the advantage of a more compact design and superior cost efficiency. The ASM motor variants will be fitted at the front axle of Neue Klasse cars with BMW xDrive.

Extensive improvements to EESM technology

Besides the addition of ASM technology, the EESM technology has also undergone a major upgrade for Gen6: rotor, stator and inverter have all been fully designed for the new 800V architecture of the Gen6 tech in order to maximise drive system performance and efficiency. This has been further helped by a complete redesign of the oil and water cooling systems. In addition to this, the experts from the BMW Group have also succeeded in improving the electric motor and central housing in terms of their weight and rigidity too. The transmission still uses a two-stage helical design, but has been further optimised by enhancements to its geometry and cooling, lower friction levels and more pleasant acoustics. The electrically excited synchronous motor’s “brain”, the inverter, now features 800V technology along with silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductors to boost efficiency. The inverter is completely integrated into the electric motor’s housing. Its task is to convert the DC power supply from the high-voltage battery to AC for use in the electric motor. The inverter was developed in-house by the BMW Group and is produced at Plant Steyr in Austria.

Lower weight, costs and energy losses – greater efficiency in the vehicle

The results obtained from intelligently incorporating new technologies into the electric powertrain while consistently enhancing existing systems make impressive reading. When compared to a Gen5 xDrive model, a future Neue Klasse model complete with EESM and ASM technology boasts the following improvements: energy losses have been reduced by 40%, costs by 20% and weight by 10%. By combining different types of electric motor, the BMW Group’s technology-open approach is therefore clearly in evidence within the field of electric mobility. In future, customers will be able to choose from models equipped with one, two, three or four electric motors to suit their individual preferences and requirements. The sixth generation BMW eDrive technology is a significant factor in the gain in overall vehicle efficiency of around 20 per cent for the Neue Klasse. This figure is based on a comparison with the current generation of all-electric vehicles from the BMW Group.

Modular concept provides crucial advantage for manufacturing electric motors

The manufacturing concept for the Gen6 electric drive system uses the principle of modular building blocks. This forms the basis for highly flexible manufacturing of various electric drive variants across the entire Neue Klasse model range. The modular "building block” concept leads to positive economies of scale and cost savings in development and production. It also has the effect of improving the scalability of production volumes. The modular approach ensures a high degree of flexibility in production, the supply networks and procurement.

The Gen6 electric drive systems: made in Steyr

Series production of the Gen6 electric drive systems will commence at BMW Group Plant Steyr in summer 2025. Pre-production already got underway at the Austrian facility in September 2024. The pre-production motors are undergoing rigorous testing and some are already being fitted in Neue Klasse test vehicles from Plant Debrecen. By 2030, the BMW Group will have invested over one billion euros at the site since the project’s launch in 2022 to expand its development and production expertise for electric drive systems. Thanks to the increase in capacity, the plant will retain its status as the BMW Group’s leading facility for drive systems. The plant has been developing and building combustion engines for the BMW and MINI brands for over 40 years. Plant Steyr’s many years of experience and high level of expertise in the field of drive systems make it the ideal site for manufacturing the Gen6 electric motors. It has an annual production capacity of 600,000 electric drive units. Diesel and petrol engines continue to be manufactured there alongside the electric motors. By 2030, around half of the on-site employees should be working in electric mobility – a vital step for safeguarding the more than 4,700 jobs at the plant in the long term. In future, all key components of the innovative, highly integrated electric drive unit – i.e. the rotor, stator, transmission, inverter and housing – will be produced at Steyr. This will include manufacturing the inverters in an in-house clean room environment for the first time, thereby taking the engine plant into the realm of electrical engineering. The electric drive components will be built on two new assembly lines at Steyr.

Thermal management: complex interaction, crucial for performance
Thermal management involves highly complex interaction between various systems in an electric vehicle and is of critical importance for a host of performance parameters, including range, real-world consumption, acceleration and charging time. Thermal management is a question of constantly keeping the temperature of the electric motor, power electronics and high-voltage battery in the optimum range, while maintaining standards of passenger comfort at the same time. Efficient thermal management is important for fast charging too. Here, the battery temperature must be kept within a defined window in order to make optimum use of the available charging capacity. Unlike combustion engines, electric motors give off little heat. This means that, depending on the operating state, the battery and the passenger cell have to be not only cooled, but heated too. The Steyr site develops the thermal management systems for all electric vehicles from the BMW Group. The plant’s development centre is also responsible for the brain at the heart of the electric motor – the inverter.

BMW Group Plant Landshut – a multi-talented component manufacturer

BMW Group Plant Landshut is the BMW Group’s largest component plant anywhere in the world, supplying components to all the company’s vehicle and drive system plants. Its workforce of around 3,700 employees produces a broad spectrum of cutting-edge components for vehicles from the BMW Group. Working closely with the BMW Group’s Research and Innovation Centre (FIZ) in Munich, Plant Landshut plays a pivotal role as a hub of innovation for the automotive industry. It develops pioneering technologies and manufacturing processes that serve to maintain the company’s competitive edge. Over the course of the Neue Klasse project, the site is investing some €200 million in its light metal foundry to increase annual production capacity for the electric motor housings. The Injector Casting (ICA) process developed and patented in Landshut is a prime example of the plant’s innovative strength. This globally unique process is used to manufacture the electric motors’ highly complex aluminium housings that set new standards for lightweight design and functional integration.

In the event of enquiries please contact:

Corporate Communications

Christian Marxt

Spokesperson Production Network, Powertrain and High-voltage Batteries

Mobile: +49-151-601-79158

E-mail: Christian.Marxt@bmwgroup.com

Carolin Seidel

Spokesperson BMW Group Plant Landshut

Mobile: +49-151-601-90340

E-mail: Carolin.Seidel@bmwgroup.com

Florian Moser

Team Lead Purchasing and Supplier Network, Spokesperson Dr Joachim Post

Mobile: +49-151-601-62847

E-mail: Florian.Moser@bmwgroup.com

Bernhard Ederer

Spokesperson Drive Technology, Battery, Charging, Efficient Dynamics

Mobile: +49-176-601-28556

E-mail: Bernhard.Ederer@bmwgroup.com

Diana Schaidnagel

Spokesperson Sustainability

Mobile: +49-151-601-38407

E-mail: Diana.Schaidnagel@bmw.de

The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial services. The BMW Group production network comprises over 30 production sites worldwide; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2024, the BMW Group sold 2.45 million passenger vehicles and more than 210,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2023 was € 17.1 billion on revenues amounting to € 155.5 billion. As of 31 December 2023, the BMW Group had a workforce of 154,950 employees.

The economic success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. Sustainability is a key element of the BMW Group’s corporate strategy and covers all products from the supply chain and production to the end of their useful life.

Singapore. BMW Group Asia today announced the return of Ms Preeti Gupta to the position of Corporate Affairs Director, based in Singapore. Ms. Gupta (46) is currently the Director of Sales Channel and Network Development and has been in this role since June 2023.

“2024 was a surprisingly successful year for both BMW and MINI across the Group Asia region, despite ongoing market challenges,” said Lars Nielsen, Managing Director, BMW Group Asia. “However, we’re acutely aware that the automotive industry in our region will continue to evolve at a fast pace in 2025 and will bring with it new challenges. Whether it be new retail formats, market entrants, or the ever-changing media landscape, we need to address these head on. 

“We firmly believe our corporate affairs strategy is essential to ensuring we keep a finger on the pulse of the market and stay one step ahead,” continued Nielsen. “Preeti brings with her a successful 7-year tenure of leading our Corporate Affairs team and nearly two years of experience working closely with our Dealer Partners across the region to develop and improve our sales channels and retail network. We are confident she is best placed to take us through this next phase as we relook at who our industry stakeholders are in this new environment, rethink what we want to communicate and to which audiences, and determine how best to deliver these messages to our growing target audience.”

During her time as Director of Sales Channel and Network Development, Preeti and her team successfully rolled-out the Retail.Next concept in 19 dealerships and service centers throughout the BMW Group Asia Region, worked closely with our team in Indonesia to lead expansion efforts and support future growth for both the BMW and MINI networks, and successfully led her team in the digital transformation of the business. During this period she continued her responsibilities as Sustainability Lead for the organization, driving CSR initiatives, communicating our ESG messages to key stakeholders and leading the Polaris Award initiative for BMW Group Asia Dealer Partners.

Preeti joined BMW Group Asia in April 2016 as Corporate Affairs Director. Prior to joining the organization, Preeti worked with various communications agencies in Singapore, India, and the United States where she provided strategic consultancy to global B2B and B2C clients across a variety of industries, including technology, logistics, and automotive.

Lars Nielsen will assume interim responsibility for the Sales Channel and Network Development team until Preeti’s successor is announced.

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Munich. Corporate Communications and Governmental Affairs at BMW AG is restructuring its management team at department level with effect from 1 January 2025.

Here are the changes in detail:

Benjamin Titz will take over as Head of Communications Central and Southeastern Europe. He will also be responsible for communications for the Debrecen and Steyr production sites.

Titz has been with the BMW Group for 19 years. After spokesperson for MW Motorsport, BMW Motorrad and BMW M GmbH he took over the responsibility for design, innovation and motorsport communications.

Most recently, he headed the BMW Group Media House, which is responsible for orchestrating, creating, and producing content for the BMW Group’s own internal and external channels.

Eckhard Wannieck takes over the management of the BMW Group Media House. After various management positions, including in communications strategy, sports and cultural sponsorship and BMW product communications, he has been responsible for the BMW Group's business and financial communications for the last four and a half years.

Max-Morten Borgmann succeeds Wannieck as head of department for Corporate, Finance and Sales Communications.

Borgmann has been press spokesman for Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management at BMW AG, since 2019. Prior to that, he was responsible for the then CFO Nicolas Peter in the same role.

Before joining the BMW Group in 2015, he worked as a journalist for the dpa and dpa-AFX news agencies, where the automotive industry was among his specialist areas.

If you have any questions, please contact:

BMW Group Corporate Communications

Dr. Hans-Peter Ketterl

Spokesperson for Human Resources and for the Member of the Board of Management for Human Resources and Real Estate

Phone: +49-89-382-23923

Mail: Hans-Peter.Ketterl@bmwgroup.com

The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. The BMW Group production network comprises over 30 production sites worldwide; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2023, the BMW Group sold over 2.55 million passenger vehicles and more than 209,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2023 was € 17.1 billion on revenues amounting to € 155.5 billion. As of 31 December 2023, the BMW Group had a workforce of 154,950 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action, from the supply chain through production to the end of the use phase of all products. 

www.bmwgroup.com

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/bmw-group/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/bmwgroup

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroup

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bmwgroup

X: https://www.x.com/bmwgroup

Munich. At its meeting today, the Supervisory Board of BMW AG set the course for a continuity of succession at the head of its board. To this end, the Supervisory Board will put forward Dr. Nicolas Peter for election to the Supervisory Board of BMW AG at the 2025 Annual General Meeting. The Supervisory Board also expressed its support for the proposal that Peter — subject to his election to the Supervisory Board — be elected as Chairman of the Supervisory Board after the 2025 Annual General Meeting.

The mandate of the current Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Dr.-Ing. Norbert Reithofer, as a member of the Supervisory Board will finish as planned at the end of the 2025 Annual General Meeting. He will not run for re-election after two terms of office. This also observes the standard age limit set by the Supervisory Board itself.

Nicolas Peter has extensive international experience in the automotive industry. He was Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Finance, from January 2017 to May 2023, and has also held various management positions in Finance and Sales at the BMW Group, including positions in several European markets. As former Chairman of the Board of Directors of BMW Brilliance Automotive, he also has extensive experience in the Chinese market. Nicolas Peter holds a doctorate in law and has both German and French citizenship.

After May 11, 2023, Nicolas Peter did not hold a position within BMW AG and will therefore have completed a two-year cooling-off period in May 2025, in accordance with the German Corporate Governance Code.

Nicolas Peter is currently a member of two supervisory bodies outside the BMW Group: He is a member of the Supervisory Board of KION GROUP AG, where he chairs the audit committee. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the listed company FORVIA SE (France) and a member of the Government Commission on the German Corporate Governance Code.

If you have any questions, please contact:

BMW Group Corporate Communications

Max-Morten Borgmann, Communications BMW Group, Finance, Sales

Telephone: +49 89 382-24118

Email: max-morten.borgmann@bmwgroup.com

Eckhard Wannieck, head of Communications BMW Group, Finance, Sales

Telephone: +49 89 382-24544

Email: eckhard.wannieck@bmwgroup.com

Media website: https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en

Email: presse@bmwgroup.com

The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. The BMW Group production network comprises over 30 production sites worldwide; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2023, the BMW Group sold over 2.55 million passenger vehicles and more than 209,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2023 was € 17.1 billion on revenues amounting to € 155.5 billion. As of 31 December 2023, the BMW Group had a workforce of 154,950 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action, from the supply chain through production to the end of the use phase of all products. 

www.bmwgroup.com

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/bmw-group/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/bmwgroup

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroup

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bmwgroup

X: https://www.x.com/bmwgroup

Singapore. BMW Group Asia announced a management change to its Customer Support function to bolster the organisation’s ongoing business development needs. Effective 1 September 2024, Fernando (Doji) Ferrer handed over the reins as Customer Support Director to Ramesh Divyanathan.

Doji led the Customer Support function since 2018 and has been influential in bringing the business forward, expanding the service network in Singapore and improving customer satisfaction in the region. He has relocated to Beijing, China, to take on the role of Head of Aftersales Channel Process and Systems at BBA Brilliance Automotive.

"The Customer Support division is a critical part of our organisation that ensures a smooth ownership journey for all customers," said Lars Nielsen, Managing Director, BMW Group Asia. "In line with this objective, one of Doji’s key successes was overseeing the digitalisation of the service experience. This development significantly enhanced efficiency and reduced customer waiting time. With a strong team and solid processes in place, Doji has clearly left his mark here. I would like to thank him for his incredible contribution to BMW Group Asia these past six years and wish him all the best in his exciting new role.”

Ramesh, who has been instrumental in driving the growth of BMW Group Indonesia as President Director over the last six years, has assumed the role of Customer Support Director at BMW Group Asia in Singapore. Ramesh has previously held Director positions at BMW Group Asia in Sales Channel Development, Marketing and Corporate Affairs.

“Ramesh enjoyed huge success leading the organisation in Indonesia and his track record speaks for itself. In addition to elevating the business to the next level, the perspectives that he has gained over the years from managing all aspects of the company show that he excels at running a high performing team. Ramesh is a familiar face within the group, and we are delighted to have him back home. I am confident that with the breadth of his knowledge and experience in taking excellent care of our customers, he will be a strong asset to the team in Singapore,” added Nielsen.

“I am proud of the achievements that Doji and Ramesh have accomplished at BMW Group Asia, and I look forward to their continued success,” concluded Nielsen.

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Munich. The BMW Group has announced a change in personnel at the helm of the MINI brand. Effective 1 August 2024, Stefan Richmann will take over management of MINI from Stefanie Wurst, who has held this position since 1 February 2022. 

In recent years, Stefanie Wurst has strategically successfully focused the British premium brand MINI on new markets and target groups, and in particular on electric mobility and digitalization. She has also developed the international MINI sales organisation into a sustainable and customer-focused sales model and has played a decisive role in the phased introduction of MINI direct sales in China and Europe.

Wurst built on the MINI brand’s strong heritage, while at the same time realigning it for the future. With the rollout of the New MINI Family, the brand is currently at a high point in its 65-year history. Three models with strong characters, the MINI Cooper*, MINI Aceman* and MINI Countryman*, embody the digitalisation of products and services, electrification of the brand and MINI’s signature go-kart feeling.

Jochen Goller, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Customer, Brands, Sales: “We would like to thank Stefanie Wurst for her great personal commitment and her valuable contribution to MINI's future direction. With Stefan Richmann, a senior executive of the BMW Group with many years of experience in Germany and abroad, will take over the management of the MINI brand from August.”

Richmann began his career at the BMW Group in 1997. Since then, he has held numerous managerial positions within the company. In 2000, he moved to Corporate Strategic Planning and, in 2004, was appointed head of Sales Controlling. From 2008, Richmann was responsible for the finances of BMW Spain as CFO. He returned to Munich at the end of 2010, where he fulfilled several further management roles in the Finance and Controlling division and Product Management at BMW Group headquarters. From 2017, Richmann served as CFO in the US. In April 2022, he took over as head of the Corporate Strategy division. 

BMW Group Corporate Communications

Andreas Lampka, head of MINI Communications

Telephone: +49 89 382-23662

Email: andreas.lampka@MINI.com

Eckhard Wannieck, head of Communications BMW Group, Finance, Sales

Telephone: +49 89 382-24544

Email: eckhard.wannieck@bmwgroup.com

Media website: https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en

Email: presse@bmwgroup.com

The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. The BMW Group production network comprises over 30 production sites worldwide; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2023, the BMW Group sold over 2.55 million passenger vehicles and more than 209,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2023 was € 17.1 billion on revenues amounting to € 155.5 billion. As of 31 December 2023, the BMW Group had a workforce of 154,950 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company set the course for the future at an early stage and consistently makes sustainability and efficient resource management central to its strategic direction, from the supply chain through production to the end of the use phase of all products. 

www.bmwgroup.com

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Singapore. The BMW Group has appointed Ms. Lisa Ng as the Regional Chief Executive Officer of Financial Services for its Asia Pacific operations effective 1 January 2024. Ms. Lisa Ng is based in Singapore and replaces Mr. Mike Wetherell, who will relocate to the Netherlands to take over as Head of Financial Services Netherlands. Ms. Lisa Ng is responsible for the Financial Services business across the region Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa.

Lisa has spent 16 years with Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Limited, being the Executive Vice President. She has held various managing roles such as:

• Vice-Chairwoman of the Boards of BMW Automotive Finance China and Herald International Financial Leasing
• Director of the Boards of Renault Brilliance Jinbei Automotive and Brilliance-BEA Auto Finance
• Company Secretary to the Board of Directors and Audit and Compliance accountancy

Lisa is an alumna of Harvard Business School as well as the Schulich School of Business, Toronto, Canada. She is also a graduate of the University of Waterloo with a bachelor’s degree in chartered accountancy.

BMW Group Financial Services operates subsidiaries and runs partnerships with local financial services providers and importers in every continent in 58 markets around the world. With more than 8,600 associates, it is one of the leading financial services companies in the automotive sector.

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Singapore. The BMW Group has appointed Mr. Hans Coertze as the Head of IT Region Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, Middle East, Africa effective 1 November 2023. Prior to his new appointment, Mr. Coertze, who is now based in Singapore, served as the Head of Ordering, Program Planning and ItO delivery at the IT Hub in South Africa, responsible for applications development and support to the central organisation and various markets globally.

Mr. Coertze began his career with the BMW Group in 1992 as a graduate in Mechanical Engineering with BMW Plant Rosslyn in South Africa, where he spent six years, in areas such as plant logistics, vehicle launch topics and body shop. In 1998, Mr. Coertze embarked on his IT career with the BMW Group, which includes IT infrastructure support, applications operations and data centre-related topics before taking on the leading role at the South Africa IT Hub in 2014.

The BMW Group thanks the outgoing Head of IT, Mr. Julius Marcea, for his hard work and dedication these past three and a half years. Under his IT leadership, in close collaboration with business colleagues, the team set up the India IT Hub, made online sales and online stock locator functionalities available throughout the region, rolled out new CRM systems, automated a significant share of processes and replaced the dealership management systems as well as Financial Services IT systems in several countries with modern cloud-based applications. Mr. Marcea is joining his family in Munich and will return to the BMW headquarters to take on a new role as IT Head in Europe.

With more than 200 employees, BMW Group IT Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, Middle East, Africa, supports 12 National Sales Companies and 10 BMW Financial Services markets that span from Australia/New Zealand to South Africa. These include business entities such as Rolls-Royce, MINI, BMW Manufacturing plants in Thailand and India and 32 BMW Group Importer markets within the region.

Munich. BMW AG Corporate and Governmental Affairs is reorganizing its management team at departmental level with effect from November 1, 2023.

The changes will affect the following functions specifically:

Alexandra Landers will take over as head of the “Product Communications BMW Automotive” department, where she will primarily be responsible for product, lifestyle and brand communications for the core BMW brand.

After holding several different positions as an HR manager, in Inhouse Consulting and as Regional Head of Communications in Europe, Landers has most recently worked as head of “PR Events”.

Nicole Geisel will take on the role of head of the “Corporate Communications Purchasing, Supplier Network and Sustainability” department.

After working in a range of positions in financial and IT communications and supporting the Supervisory Board of BMW AG, she most recently headed up the BMW Group’s Communications Strategy as well as Planning and Steering and Market Steering for Europe and China, along with the unit’s Business IT.

Markus Sagemann will take responsibility for the “PR Events” department.

In recent years, Sagemann has held numerous management positions in external and internal communications for the BMW Group. Most recently, he headed up the “Corporate Communications Purchasing, Supplier Network and Sustainability” department.

Ingo Wirth will take over the management of the “Strategy, Steering” department.

After heading up several roles in marketing communications and board management for the Board of Management, Wirth has in recent years been in charge of product communications for the MINI and BMW Motorrad brands and most recently also for the core BMW brand.

If you have any questions, please contact:

BMW Group Corporate Communications

Dr. Hans-Peter Ketterl

Spokesperson HR and
Member of the Board of Management BMW AG, People and Real Estate

Tel: +49-89-382-23923

Mail: Hans-Peter.Ketterl@bmwgroup.com

The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. The BMW Group production network comprises over 30 production sites worldwide; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2022, the BMW Group sold nearly 2.4 million passenger vehicles and more than 202,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2022 was € 23.5 billion on revenues amounting to € 142.6 billion. As of 31 December 2022, the BMW Group had a workforce of 149,475 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company set the course for the future at an early stage and consistently makes sustainability and efficient resource management central to its strategic direction, from the supply chain through production to the end of the use phase of all products.

www.bmwgroup.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BMWGroup

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/BMWGroupView

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroup

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bmw-group/

Attached please find the CV of Jochen Goller for download.

Munich. The BMW Group is filling several top management positions directly below the Management Board. The changes will affect the Development division under Frank Weber, and the Customer, Brands, Sales division, which will be headed up by Jochen Goller from 1 November 2023.

Christopher Brownridge will take over as CEO of Rolls-Royce on 1 December 2023. He has been with the BMW Group since 2000, most recently as head of the National Sales Company for the UK and Ireland. He succeeds Torsten Müller-Ötvös, responsible for Rolls-Royce since 2010, who will retire on 30 November 2023.

Markus Flasch will take over as head of BMW Motorrad on 1 November 2023, replacing Markus Schramm. Schramm has held the position since 2018 and retires on 31 October 2023. Flasch has been with the BMW Group since 2015 and is currently head of the product line for all mid-size and luxury class BMW vehicles and the Rolls-Royce marque.

Flasch will be replaced as Head of Product Line Midsize and Luxury Class BMW, Rolls-Royce on 1 January 2024 by Nicolai Martin. Having joined the BMW Group in 2004, Martin is currently responsible for Driving Experience, which covers the development of all functions for the chassis, driving dynamics, and automated driving.

The new head of Driving Experience from 1 January 2024 will be Mihiar Ayoubi. He has been with the BMW Group since 1997 and is currently responsible for the development of all Rolls-Royce vehicles.

From 1 November 2023, Bernd Körber, head of Product Management for the BMW brand, will take on additional responsibility for BMW Brand Management.

Jens Thiemer, currently responsible for BMW Brand Management, is leaving the BMW Group on 31 October 2023 by his own volition to pursue new challenges.

If you have any questions, please contact:

BMW Group Corporate Communications

Sebastian Kessler, Spokesperson

Telephone: +49 89 382-21616

Email: sebastian.ke.kessler@bmwgroup.de

Eckhard Wannieck, Head of Communications Corporate, Finance, Sales

Telephone: +49 89 382-24544

Email: eckhard.wannieck@bmwgroup.com

Media website: https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en

Email: presse@bmwgroup.com

The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. The BMW Group production network comprises over 30 production sites worldwide; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2022, the BMW Group sold nearly 2.4 million passenger vehicles and more than 202,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2022 was € 23.5 billion on revenues amounting to € 142.6 billion. As of 31 December 2022, the BMW Group had a workforce of 149,475 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company set the course for the future at an early stage and consistently makes sustainability and efficient resource management central to its strategic direction, from the supply chain through production to the end of the use phase of all products.

www.bmwgroup.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BMWGroup

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/BMWGroupView

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroup

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bmw-group/

Munich. The Supervisory Board of BMW AG has today extended the contract of Oliver Zipse as Chairman of the Board of Management until 2026. Zipse has been a member of the Board of Management since 2015 and Chairman of the Board since August 2019. During his term of office, the BMW Group significantly expanded its range of electric vehicles and today offers fully electric models in almost all of its core segments. In addition, development began on the Neue Klasse as the next model generation, with production starting in 2025.

Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of BMW AG, said: “Oliver Zipse has very successfully steered the company in recent years through an extremely volatile environment. In a phase of global crises and profound transformation, the BMW Group has not only achieved reliably robust results under his leadership, but has also sustainably strengthened its leading position in global competition. With the Neue Klasse, the BMW Group is well on track to further expand this position.”

Martin Kimmich, Chairman of the General Works Council of BMW AG, said: “The good cooperation between the Board of Management and the Works Council will be continued with the reappointment of Oliver Zipse. I am convinced that we will continue to jointly take constructive decisions and I am therefore looking positively to the future.”

At its meeting today, the Supervisory Board also appointed Jochen Goller to the Board of Management of BMW AG. He will succeed Pieter Nota and take over responsibility for the division Customer, Brands and Sales on November 1, 2023. Nota took over the division in 2018 and played a key role in significantly accelerating sales of all-electric models in recent years and systematically digitalizing the customer interface. In addition, he has sharpened the BMW Group's brand portfolio with the BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands and further developed the international sales organization towards a sustainable and customer-centric sales model.. Since he took office, the BMW Group has significantly increased its global market share and achieved a sales record in 2019 with more than 2.5 million vehicles. In 2023, under his leadership, BMW Group sales is on course to once again reach or even exceed this pre-corona level.

“The Supervisory Board would like to thank Pieter Nota for his great commitment and in particular for the important impulses he has brought to the sales organization with his extensive experience outside the automotive industry,” said Reithofer. “With Jochen Goller, we are appointing an internationally experienced sales manager to the Board of Management and a proven China expert who knows the BMW Group's largest market like no other.”

Jochen Goller has been with the BMW Group since 1999 and spent more than ten years with the company in the UK and China in various, also cross-brand functions. Since 2018, he has been very successfully managing the activities in the China region. During this time, the BMW Group was able to take over a majority stake in its local joint venture BMW Brilliance Automotive. Goller was previously also responsible for the MINI brand.

If you have any questions, please contact:

BMW Group Corporate Communications

Max-Morten Borgmann, Communications BMW Group

Telephone: +49 89 382-24118

Email: max-morten.borgmann@bmwgroup.com

Eckhard Wannieck, Head of Communications BMW Group, Finance, Sales

Telephone: +49 89 382-24544

Email: eckhard.wannieck@bmwgroup.com

Media website: https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en

Email: presse@bmwgroup.com

The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. The BMW Group production network comprises over 30 production sites worldwide; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2022, the BMW Group sold nearly 2.4 million passenger vehicles and more than 202,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2022 was € 23.5 billion on revenues amounting to € 142.6 billion. As of 31 December 2022, the BMW Group had a workforce of 149,475 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company set the course for the future at an early stage and consistently makes sustainability and efficient resource management central to its strategic direction, from the supply chain through production to the end of the use phase of all products. 

www.bmwgroup.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BMWGroup

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/BMWGroupView

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroup

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bmw-group/

Singapore. BMW Group Asia is pleased to announce that Ms. Claudia Wieshuber has been appointed the Director of Marketing, BMW Asia, with effect from 1 October 2023. Prior to her new appointment, Ms. Wieshuber served the last 7 years as the Head of Communication Strategy for BMW Luxury Class for BMW based in Munich.

“We are excited to welcome Claudia to Singapore to lead our Marketing team,” said Mr. Lars Nielsen, Managing Director, BMW Group Asia. “Claudia’s experience across multiple marketing disciplines, combined with her extensive knowledge on our BMW i and BMW Luxury Class Communication Strategy, paired with her professional network, will be invaluable as we look to further intensify our on-going BMW Electrified Vehicles Product Offensive roll-out coupled together with BMW Customer and Brand focus topics across the region.”

Ms. Wieshuber has been with BMW Group since 2003 and was part of the team who developed the concept of the BMW Welt prior to the opening in 2007.  In 2010, she moved on to be part of the team that developed the Communication and Brand Strategy for BMW i. Prior to her current role in Munich, Ms. Wieshuber was the Head of Marketing for the Joint Venture Partner Support Project (Brilliance Auto) based in Beijing.

BMW Group Asia comprises of 14 markets, including; Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Brunei, Bangladesh, Guam, New Caledonia, Nepal, Tahiti, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar.

Munich. Effective 1 September 2023, Isabel Richter became the Head of Sustainability Communications at the BMW Group, with responsibility for development, coordination and implementation of communications messaging on the subject of sustainability. Isabel Richter is assigned to the main department of Alexander Bilgeri, Vice President Communications Human Resources, Production, Purchasing and Sustainability. Richter comes from Microsoft Germany, where she was responsible for economic and corporate strategy topics, such as digital transformation and AI, cybersecurity, corporate citizenship and sustainability, as Corporate Communications Lead. She also headed communications at the Berlin location, where she shaped digital policy dialogue with the press, policymakers as well as society and established digital public affairs.

Prior to working for Microsoft, Richter was Head of the Environment and Sustainability division at the digital association BITKOM in Berlin. Richter began her career in corporate communications at IBM in London, before working for communications agency Waggener Edstrom in London, Seattle and Munich for several years. Ms. Richter earned a degree in Communication and Media Studies from Leipzig University.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Diana Schaidnagel, Press Spokesperson Sustainability BMW Group
Telephone: +49-151-601-38407
Email: Diana.Schaidnagel@bmw.de

Isabel Richter, Head of Sustainability Communications BMW Group
Telephone: +49-151-601-53189
Email: Isabel.Richter@bmw.de

Media website: https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en

Email: presse@bmwgroup.com

The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. The BMW Group production network comprises over 30 production sites worldwide; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries. In 2022, the BMW Group sold nearly 2.4 million passenger vehicles and more than 202,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2022 was € 23.5 billion on revenues amounting to € 142.6 billion. As of 31 December 2022, the BMW Group had a workforce of 149,475 employees. The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company set the course for the future at an early stage and consistently makes sustainability and efficient resource management central to its strategic direction, from the supply chain through production to the end of the use phase of all products.

www.bmwgroup.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BMWGroup

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/BMWGroupView

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroup

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bmw-group/