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Munich. The Supervisory Board of BMW AG has appointed Dr Raymond Wittmann (47) as a new member of the Board of Management at its meeting today. He will assume responsibility for Production when Milan Nedeljkovic takes over as Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG at the end of the Annual General Meeting on May 13.

Raymond Wittmann has been with the BMW Group since 2015 and has been responsible for Corporate Strategy and Corporate Development since 2024. Previously, he held several management positions in various divisions, including Head of Assembly at the Munich plant, CFO of the Americas sales region, and Project Manager for the establishment of the production site in San Luis Potosí (Mexico). Raymond Wittmann holds a PhD in aerospace engineering. Before joining the BMW Group, he worked as a partner at an international strategic consultancy.

“Raymond Wittmann combines strategic thinking with operational excellence and business responsibility. With his broad, cross-divisional experience and international perspective, he has the key qualities for leading the production division,” said Dr. Nicolas Peter, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of BMW AG. “Raymond Wittmann complements the future Board of Management team led by Milan Nedeljkovic with the right strengths and skills. The Supervisory Board is very confident that the Board of Management, in its new composition, will continue to drive the success of the BMW Group in the future.”

If you have any questions, please contact:

BMW Group Corporate Communications

Max-Morten Borgmann, Head of Corporate, Finance, and Sales Communications

Telephone: +49 89 382-24118

Email: Max-Morten.Borgmann@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 over 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.

www.bmwgroup.com

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

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

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Munich.  2025 sees the Bavarian capital host the annual One Young World Summit, a top conference of young leaders from across the globe. With delegates from 196 countries, the Summit is one of the few global events to bring young people from all continents together and offer them a platform. It is now being hosted by the City of Munich – for a second time. With its special mix of tradition, innovation and quality of life, Munich is the ideal place to pursue the shared goal of developing innovative and visionary solutions to social challenges.

Ilka Horstmeier, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for HR and Real Estate, said: “The One Young World Summit 2025 in Munich brings together young leaders from across the globe to inspire and connect. For us at the BMW Group, social responsibility extends far beyond our products and organisation: by supporting One Young World, we foster responsible leadership and encourage young people to take a stand and remain committed to resolving the challenges of the future.”

BMW Group fosters young leaders

A premium partner of One Young World, the BMW Group plays an active role in the event series. It sees itself as an integral part of society and supports the development of solutions to meet global challenges. One aspect of this consists of fostering a generation of future leaders dedicated to achieving a responsible, just and forward-looking society. Since 2016 the BMW Group has had its own delegation of committed young leaders aged between 18 and 30 at the four-day forum, which it sees as an opportunity to contribute to a better future. This year it will once again be staging the closing ceremony at BMW Welt – a symbol of technology, design and emotional experiences.

Driving change together

The One Young World Summit is an invitation to debate social, business and environmental issues, share knowledge and experience, ask critical questions and make lasting connections. The aim is to enable talented and ambitious young people to actively drive change. Delegates come from a variety of backgrounds, from business and science to NGOs. It’s in this diversity and passionate commitment that the BMW Group sees the potential of the international conference.

With a BMW Group delegation of more than 50 people, this year’s event will focus on education, the circular economy, responsible tech, combating hatred, and on peace and security. For even more impetus and different perspectives, a range of influential figures from business, politics, sport and culture will make guest appearances. One of them will be Philipp Lahm, former captain of the German national football team and 2014 football World Champion. He will be talking to Ilka Horstmeier at the opening ceremony of the Summit on 3 November in Munich’s Olympic Hall.

Education is key

In a podium discussion during the four-day conference, Ilka Horstmeier will explore how effective leadership can help restore trust in institutions, science and democracy, and the key role of education in this. Her panellists will be His Excellency Miguel Ángel Moratinos, Under-General-Secretary of the United Nations and High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations (UNAOC), and Gabriela de la Torre, responsible for gifted and talented education at the Mexican Ministry of Education and General Director of the Programa Adopted un Talento (Adopt a Talent Programme, PAUTA), which is dedicated to providing extra-curricular activities to support children and young people across Mexico looking to pursue a career in the sciences.

The BMW Group has long been committed to educational initiatives at its various sites, and a million children and young people have already benefited. Its longstanding collaboration with the UNAOC primarily fosters grass-roots initiatives to develop their knowledge of STEM subjects (sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics), which are important foundations to careers in exactly the areas that enable participation in global growth.

In addition, the BMW Group will invite delegates at the conference to join an interactive workshop on the circular economy. Participants will learn more about how the principles of circularity can be integrated into business ideas to help save resources and CO₂ emissions.

If you have any questions, please contact:

BMW Group Corporate Communications

Dr Hans-Peter Ketterl
Spokesperson for HR and for the Member of the Board of Management for HR and Real Estate
Tel: +49-89-382-23923
Email: Hans-Peter.Ketterl@bmwgroup.com

Bernd Eckstein
Head of Communications for HR, Real Estate, Culture, Corporate Citizenship
Tel: +49-89-382-59490
Email: Bernd.Eckstein@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 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 over 2.45 million passenger vehicles and more than 210,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2024 was € 11.0 billion on revenues amounting to € 142.4 billion. As of 31 December 2024, the BMW Group had a workforce of 159,104 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.

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

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Munich. The BMW Group today announced senior management changes in its Sales and Finance Divisions: Jean-Philippe Parain, who currently serves as Head of the Sales Region Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa for the BMW Group, will assume responsibility for the MINI brand as of 1 October 2025.

Parain brings a wealth of international experience to the role and will be tasked with building on MINI's current momentum. Jean-Philippe Parain joined the company in 1997 at BMW France in the marketing department. Jean-Philippe Parain has held several senior management roles including President and CEO BMW Group Belux, Head of MINI Europe and Head of Sales Region Europe. Under his leadership, the Sales Region Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa saw particularly strong growth and reached segment leadership for the premium brands BMW and MINI.

”We are convinced that Jean-Philippe Parain, with his leadership experience and sales expertise, will help MINI build on the strong foundation of the new model family and realise the brand's great potential in coming years,” said Jochen Goller, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Customer, Brands and Sales.

Stefan Richmann, currently Head of the MINI brand, will take on the role of Head of Treasury and Investor Relations for the BMW Group, effective

1 October 2025. Under Stefan Richmann's leadership, MINI has seen a strong sales increase by about 25% per August 2025 compared to the previous year, with the new MINI model lineup resonating strongly with customers around the world. Especially the all-electric MINI models saw significant growth during the year.

"Stefan Richmann has done an outstanding job in steering the MINI brand into the future and positioning it for continued growth and success," said Jochen Goller.

As Head of BMW Group Treasury, Stefan Richmann will be responsible for the financing activities of the BMW Group, including liquidity management, pension investment and financial risk management. Additionally, BMW Group Investor Relations, as part of his responsibility, serve as the interface to the capital market.

“I’m looking forward to welcoming Stefan Richmann in his new position as Head of Treasury. Stefan’s financial expertise and strategic vision make him the ideal candidate to bring the BMW Group Treasury and Investor Relations to the next level", said Walter Mertl, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Finance.

Stefan Richmann began his career at the BMW Group in 1997. Since then, he has held numerous managerial positions within the company. From 2008, Stefan Richmann was responsible for BMW Spain finances 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, Stefan Richmann served as CFO of BMW North-America and later as Head of BMW Financial Services America. In April 2022, he took over as head of the Corporate Strategy division, and in 2024 as head of the MINI brand.

Ritu Chandy, currently Head of BMW Group Treasury, will succeed Jean-Philippe Parain as Head of the BMW Group Sales Region Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa on 1 October 2025.

Ritu Chandy began her career with the BMW Group in 2001 at BMW Australia and has held senior management roles across BMW Group’s global footprint including CFO for BMW Group Financial Services of North America and CEO of the BMW Group Financial Services Asia-Pacific Region before relocating to Munich in April 2022 for her current position. In this role, Ritu Chandy has driven change in capital market interaction and earned widespread respect with financial market stakeholders for her transparency, strategic approach and unwavering dedication. 

“We are confident that Ritu Chandy, with her drive and strength in successfully managing heterogeneous markets, will continue to build on the strong sales performance in the region. I would like to thank Ritu, who has worked tirelessly to strengthen the BMW Group's reputation in the financial market and, together with her teams, has driven forward process improvements in Group Treasury," said Walter Mertl.

Her appointment as Head of the Sales Region Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa for the BMW Group comes into effect as of 1 October2025. Based on her previous roles, Ritu Chandy has comprehensive knowledge and experience with the region that will enable her to drive sales across this portfolio spanning numerous markets and cultures.

"Ritu Chandy’s appointment brings a leader with a unique blend of financial acumen and deep regional expertise to a key pillar of our global footprint," said Jochen Goller.

The Board of Management wishes all three senior managers much success in their new roles.

BMW Group Corporate Communications

Micaela Sandstede, Head of Communications MINI

Telephone: +49 176 601 61611

Email: micaela.sandstede@mini.com

Dr Sina Unger, Communications Sales

Telephone: +49 151 601 47564

Email: sina.unger@bmwgroup.com

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

Telephone: +49 89 382-24118

Email: max-morten.borgmann@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 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 2024 was € 11.0 billion on revenues amounting to € 142.4 billion. As of 31 December 2024, the BMW Group had a workforce of 159,104 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. Sustainability is a key component of the BMW Group’s corporate strategy – 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

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Munich. At a meeting of the Supervisory Board held following the Annual General Meeting of BMW AG, Dr. Nicolas Peter was elected its chairman. 86.21 percent of shareholders had voted earlier, at the BMW AG Annual General Meeting, to appoint Dr. Peter to the Supervisory Board for a four-year term.

Dr. Nicolas Peter served as the member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for the Finance division from January 2017 to May 2023. He has extensive experience in the automotive industry, combined with many years in a wide range of management positions at the BMW Group.

Dr. Peter has not held any position within BMW AG since 11 May 2023 and has therefore completed the two-year cooling-off period required by the German Corporate Governance Code.

The Annual General Meeting has also elected Dr. Marc Bitzer, Ms. Rachel Empey, Ms. Anke Schäferkordt and Prof. Dr. Christoph Schmidt to the Supervisory Board for another four-year term.

BMW Group Corporate Communications

Sebastian Keßler, Communications BMW Group, Strategy

Telephone: +49 89 382-21616

Email: Sebastian.KE.Kessler@bmwgroup.com

Dr. Dominic Stoiber, Communications BMW Group, Strategy

Telephone: +49 89 382-51137

Email: dominic.stoiber@bmwgroup.com

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

Telephone: +49 89 382-24118

Email: max-morten.borgmann@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 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 over 2.45 million passenger vehicles and more than 210,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2024 was € 11.0 billion on revenues amounting to € 142.4 billion. As of 31 December 2024, the BMW Group had a workforce of 159,104 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.

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

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Munich. These days the question of how stable a business is, is increasingly coming under the spotlight. Crisis-proof companies are characterised by targeted planning, the flexibility to adapt to volatility, and good leadership. But organisations that meet these criteria also make desirable employers – as shown by numerous studies in 2024 that rate the BMW Group as highly attractive in this regard.

One example is the Trendence Professionals Barometer. Here the BMW Group once again topped the rankings in 2024 as the best employer – for the thirteenth time in a row. A leading study in gauging employer attractiveness, the Trendence survey questioned 15,000 university-educated employees in Germany to ascertain the best employers for professionals. 2024 also saw the BMW Group top the tables in other global and market-specific employer rankings, such as the World’s Most Attractive Employers, by Universum, and the World’s Best Employers, by Forbes.

"You don't automatically become the best employer. Our industry is changing. At BMW, we rely on the skills and experience of our employees, take them along with us on the journey and offer them varied and meaningful tasks. This allows them to grow personally and fully develop their potential. This also pays off in the competition for the best employees," emphasizes Ilka Horstmeier, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Human Resources and Real Estate, Director of Labor Relations.

In the current challenging situation especially, the company and its brands are benefiting from their premium products and exciting new fields of activity around e-mobility and digitalisation. The BMW Group also offers above-average remuneration and a host of additional benefits, as well as mobility and health programmes and opportunities for further development in-house.

Other Trendence rankings topped by the BMW Group

The BMW Group also retained the top spot in the Trendence Graduate Barometer 2024 in the category for Engineering, with a clear lead over the remaining contestants. The survey involved 15,000 students of various disciplines from universities and colleges across Germany.

Among business graduates, the BMW Group was able to boost its approval ratings and rise to second place in the rankings. Another area where the BMW Group is improving is IT, and it now ranks fourth, as the most attractive automotive employer.

In the Trendence School Student Barometer, the company rose from fourth to third place, making it the most popular automotive employer again. 15,000 school students took part in the study.

Highly sought-after skilled workers also voted the BMW Group into the top spot as an employer, in the Trendence Skilled Workers Barometer 2024. This surveyed 21,000 employees in Germany and awarded the BMW Group first place.

BMW Group among top employers globally too

The current ranking of the World’s Most Attractive Employers 2024, by Universum, surveyed more than 144,000 students from the nine leading economies and ranked the BMW Group fifth among prospective engineers worldwide. The company also ranks among the top 17 employers globally for IT and business students.

Talent welcome

The BMW Group offers exciting challenges for young as well as more seasoned professionals in forward-looking fields such as battery research and automated driving as well as software development, IT architecture for databases and cloud systems, and app development. Applications are always welcome! In addition, BMW Group production facilities around the world are constantly looking for electrical maintenance and system management specialists as well as production planners and control technicians.

Talented people with an interest in joining the BMW Group can learn more about working with the company, how to join and current job offers from the BMW Group Careers page of our website or the BMW Group Careers social media channels:

BMWho?

Beyond the Road

Zeit für neue Perspektiven

Innovation durch Vielfalt

If you have any questions, please contact:

BMW Group Corporate Communications

Dr. Hans-Peter Ketterl

Spokesperson for Human Resources and

Member of the Board of Management for Human Resources 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 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

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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

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Munich/Leipzig. When the team at BMW Group Plant Leipzig pick up their tools on a Monday morning, the whole world comes together: about 70 nationalities collaborate here. The team come not just from Germany but also from places like Syria, Poland, Spain, Egypt and Eritrea. “We all work together really well, it’s enriching and founded on acceptance and mutual respect,” explained Plant Director Petra Peterhänsel. Cultural diversity is the order of the day, not just here but across the BMW Group – and has been for a very long time.

As the team expands, Plant Leipzig is getting even more colourful and varied. Cultural diversity is key to making the BMW Group electric, digital and circular, and specialists from all fields and across the globe are needed to ensure secure supplies of labour and help align the BMW Group as closely as possible with the wishes and needs of its stakeholders in a global world that’s always on the move.

Plant Leipzig exemplifies the BMW Group’s fundamental belief that cultural diversity is welcome, essential to its success and enhances the company’s attractiveness as an employer. It also sets the BMW Group apart, with some 150,000 employees worldwide from more than 110 different countries all doing their part for our shared success.

BMW Group to take active part in German Diversity Day

On World Day for Cultural Diversity on 21 May and German Diversity Day – established by the Diversity Charter and taking place on 28 May – the BMW Group will be seizing the opportunity to do more to promote and strengthen cultural diversity within its own ranks through numerous in-house activities.

But these are just two of various campaign days each year on which the BMW Group devotes its attention to diversity, equal opportunities and inclusion.

Plant Leipzig: the cultural mix is a challenge – but an opportunity as well

When Abdelrahman Salem followed his German girlfriend – now his wife – from Egypt to Germany, he arrived here speaking hardly a word of the language. At the age of 30, the pilot found himself having to establish a new professional focus. An opportunity arose at the BMW Group: he passed his entrance exam, learned German with the help of the company and was able to start training as a production mechanic. Today he is a specialist in battery module production, and in April of this year he was awarded German citizenship. “In terms of integration, both personally and professionally, language was key,” said Salem looking back. He is also keen to share his positive experiences with others: while undergoing training himself, he already started supporting other colleagues coming in from other countries by showing them the ropes and translating technical documentation for them.

Abdelrahman Salem is part of a multicultural team at Plant Leipzig, where the share of employees from other countries has grown significantly over the last ten years. In 2017 they came from 44 different nations, rising to over 70 by 2023.

For someone like Salem to progress as he has, active integration is key. “The mix of cultures is a new challenge because not all our new colleagues speak the same language as we do. That’s why we offer German courses and intercultural training to help people get along with each other, so we can all grow together,” said Plant Director Petra Peterhänsel.

Practising a ‘welcome culture’ 

At BMW Group plants in Germany, integration is actively promoted. Departments provide the basics of their specialist knowledge in different languages as well as pictograms, and to help employees improve their language skills, the BMW Group covers the cost of the personal contribution they have to pay for language courses by the Office for Migration and Refugees. As part of its ‘welcome culture’ the BMW Group also works hard to show newcomers the ropes in their new jobs. And the effort is paying off: staff turnover is low and new colleagues are sending a positive message to the outside world. An important role in all of this falls to managers: as role models, they can influence the atmosphere in the team – which is also the reason managers in production undergo intercultural training, for example.

No place for discrimination 

At the BMW Group, diversity is about more than just cultures: it also covers sex, age and experience, physical and mental abilities, and sexual orientation and gender identity. With sufficient understanding and acceptance of others and a sense for similarities and differences, together these dimensions of diversity become a strength. To avoid prejudice and discrimination, all employees undergo mandatory training on equal treatment and how respectful collaboration can succeed. The course is currently being rolled out worldwide.

Young talent development: Wanted! International perspectives

So that young talents gain early experience of intercultural collaboration, the BMW Group encourages international secondments. Trainees and trainee apprentices, for example, can spend time abroad via the global MOVE programme and work elsewhere in the production network, for example in the UK, the US, South Africa, China or Mexico. The international exchange scheme for graduates is the global AcceleratiON programme. Both of these initiatives aim to help young people broaden their horizons, connect and experience different perspectives.   

Ljubljana, marec 2024. Aleš Suhorepec bo s prvim majem 2024 postal Generalni direktor BMW Slovenije. A. Suhorepec se je skupini BMW pridružil leta 2013 kot Direktor prodaje za vozila BMW in MINI v Sloveniji. Z letom 2021 je ob prodaji prevzel tudi vodenje marketinga in s tem odgovornost za blagovne znamke, obenem pa je od vsega začetka aktivno vpleten v projekt direktne prodaje, ki bo v naslednjem letu zaživel tudi v Sloveniji za MINI. Preden se je pridružil skupini BMW je deloval na več vodilnih pozicijah v avtomobilski branži, in sicer od financiranja prodaje vozil za več blagovnih znamk do odgovornosti za prodajo dveh avtomobilskih znamk za slovenski trg. Avtomobilski branži je posvetil svojo kariero in ji je predan že od leta 1991 ter jo aktivno sooblikuje že 33 let.

Christopher Puth, ki je vodil BMW Slovenijo od avgusta 2019, bo nadaljeval svojo kariero kot Generalni direktor BMW Hellas v Grčiji, obenem pa bo tudi vnaprej odgovoren za uvozniške trge EU, in sicer za Malto, Ciper in Hrvaško. Pod njegovim vodstvom je BMW Slovenija naredila pomemben preboj na področju elektromobilnosti in dosegla, da je bilo v letu 2023 že kar vsako tretje registrirano vozilo BMW Group električno ali priključno hibridno, obenem pa ima BMW Slovenija trdno vodstvo v najvišjem in najprestižnejšem segmentu vozil, pa tudi v segmentu visokozmogljivih športnih vozil med najbližjima nemškima konkurentoma. V letu 2023 je BMW Motorrad presegel izjemen mejnik in prodal več kot 400 motorjev v Sloveniji, oddelek poprodaje prav tako vsako leto dosega rekordne rezultate.

C. Puth je vodil slovenski trg v nestanovitnih in negotovih časih korone, izzivov v proizvodnji in gospodarske nestabilnosti. Kljub zahtevnim okoliščinam, skozi katere je uspešno vodil trgovsko mrežo, je le-ta že v letu 2021 dosegla predkoronske prodajne rezultate. V času njegovega vodenja se je tudi konsolidirala trgovska mreža, ki je postala močnejša, stabilnejša in pripravljena na prihodnji model direktne prodaje.

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Munich. Working on the cutting edge, helping shape the future and finding solutions to problems – that is what female engineers love about their careers with the BMW Group. The company aims to get even more women excited about technology. Although the percentage of women in the workforce continues to climb, it could be higher – especially in the technical professions.

Women's creativity and thinking make a positive contribution to diversity at the BMW Group – and diversity is a success factor that makes companies more innovative. Growing demand for workers can only be met with increasing representation of women in future competences.

Ilka Horstmeier, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for People and Real Estate, Labour Relations Director, underlined that: “We want to get more young women interested in STEM careers, so we can shape the future of individual mobility with them. We believe in a diverse team spirit, with equal opportunities and responsibility for each individual. That is how we are making BMW electric, digital and circular.”

The BMW Group is therefore taking advantage of International Women’s Day on 8 March to highlight the countless opportunities for women in the STEM field. To target them, it is important to spark an interest in technical subjects at an early age. Inspiring role models also play an important part.

The following female engineers took an interest in technology from a young age: Céline Laurent-Winter always loved maths, physics and computers at school; Kirsten Matheus’s experience was similar, with mathematics one of her favourite subjects; Stella Clarke particularly enjoyed classes where she and the other girls were allowed to experiment, such as programming a robotic arm. Today, all three are successful engineers at the BMW Group.

#empowerGirl: Getting to know companies up close

These three women’s biographies have one thing in common – they all loved numbers and technology, even as children and teenagers. This is precisely the age where BMW Group initiatives aim to reach girls. The company's latest commitment is supporting the initiative #empowerGirl, an online portal designed to connect schoolgirls interested in STEM with companies and enable them to gain early insights into technical professions. Girls can check out internship opportunities online and get in touch with contacts at the companies directly.

Girls’ Day on 25 April, which the BMW Group participates in more and more widely nationwide every year, also provides insights into real-world scenarios. On this day, the company opens its doors to girls aged from 14 to 19 and spotlights STEM careers related to automotive production. The focus of this action day is on asking questions and trying things out without feeling nervous. 

Maker Spaces: Discovering a passion for technical topics

Try it out for yourself – that is also the concept behind the so-called Maker Space in Munich which the BMW Group is partnering with: The publicly accessible workshop is based on the concept of explorative learning and lowers the threshold for experimenting with technology. It creates a no-pressure environment in which women, in particular, can discover their passion for technical subjects. Development engineer Stella Clarke loves the “terrific atmosphere” at the Maker Space, which boosts self-belief with a “you can do it” attitude. 

High percentage of women in talent development programmes

Once an interest in technology has been awakened, it is vital to continue encouraging young women and supporting them on the road to an engineering career. The BMW Group ensures there is high female representation in its talent development programmes. For example, women have made up over 40 percent of its AcceleratiON trainee programme for years.

Work-life balance is still a decisive factor for women pursuing a career. The BMW Group’s joint leadership model plays a particularly important role in this context: Both men and women have the opportunity to share a managerial position with equal responsibility during a transition period. This makes it easier to balance work and family during certain phases in life.

Inspiring women as role models

Experience has shown that girls and young women need strong role models they can identify with and who encourage them to assert themselves in a field still largely dominated by men. Engineers Céline Laurent-Winter, Kirsten Matheus and Stella Clarke are exactly that kind of inspiring role model.

Céline Laurent-Winter: Learning never ends 

“If you love STEM subjects, stick with it! There are exciting jobs and future-oriented topics waiting for you. Women are just as good as men at these things!” encourages Céline Laurent-Winter. Laurent-Winter, who was born in France and has been with the BMW Group for almost 19 years, currently works in vehicle connectivity. After studying production and automation technology, she earned a PhD in computer science. She says the most exciting thing about her job is that, with a career in STEM, you never stop learning. “The digital world offers endless possibilities that are constantly growing.”

Kirsten Matheus: Changing things for the better

“What makes it exciting is the diversity – from highly technical to highly strategic, everything is possible,” says Kirsten Matheus about her job as an engineer. She describes herself as having an “engineering personality”. Solving problems and achieving goals has always given her tremendous satisfaction. She has worked for the BMW Group for 14 years in electronics development and is responsible for strategy for communication technologies. A career as an engineer appeals to her on two levels: She wants to change things for the better and, at the same time, be able to provide for a family on her salary.

Stella Clarke: Tracking down talents

“I believe women need more encouragement,” says Stella Clarke, from Australia, who studied mechanical engineering and has worked for the BMW Group for 17 years as a development engineer. She developed the idea for changing the colour of the vehicle body with innovative E Ink technology. “Believe in yourself!” she urges young women. In her view, every child is eager to explore and figure out how the world works. She believes young people need more encouragement and inspiration to engage with science and technology.

Driven by Diversity: Diversity is the foundation of our success

The BMW Group views diversity as a strength. Diversity helps us recruit and retain the best talents and meet our stakeholders’ expectations worldwide. We promote a culture that is free of prejudice and values differences and believe that equity and inclusion are fundamental requirements for this.

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Debrecen / Munich. The BMW Group has opened the Training Center at its new plant in Debrecen, Hungary. The company is investing more than one billion euros in the site, where series production for the first all-electric model of the Neue Klasse will start in 2025. The education and training of highly qualified employees is of particular importance.  

With the Neue Klasse, the BMW Group will introduce the next generation of BMW models. This combines the company's innovative strength in the central areas of electrification, digitization and circularity.

The opening of the Training Center at the future plant in Debrecen, Hungary, marks another milestone on the BMW Group's journey to start production of the Neue Klasse in 2025.

In the facility, equipped with the latest infrastructure, on an area of almost 6,500 square meters and with an investment volume of just under 20 million euros, employees of the BMW Group Plant in Debrecen as well as trainees and dual education students acquire the necessary skills for the production of the new generation of models.

During the opening, Ilka Horstmeier, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, People and Real Estate, Labour Relations Director, emphasized: “The Neue Klasse is our promise for the future because it gives us the opportunity to completely rethink mobility and collaboration. We shape our transformation through People and Places together with our employees — they make the difference. With the start of the first 100 students and the opening of the Training Center here in Debrecen, we are underlining the relevance of education and training as a decisive factor for the future orientation of our company.”

By 2025, the number of trainees will rise to a total of up to 300. This makes it one of the largest apprentice training programs in all of Hungary.

The dual training program offered in collaboration with the Debrecen Vocational Training Center offers students the opportunity to acquire skills that can be the basis for an entire career. It is a three-year course in the areas of mechatronics, electronics, automotive mechatronics, and IT systems and applications. All these capabilities are important for future automotive production. The new training center offers state-of-the-art facilities and a high-tech learning environment. After successful completion of apprentice training, every trainee is offered an employment contract by the BMW Group or they take advantage of the opportunity to study further.

„We are pleased to welcome the first apprentices to our new Training Center. Within our facility we will teach them all about automotive production, our processes and the BMW culture“ said Hans-Peter Kemser, President and CEO BMW Group Plant Debrecen. „Our culture is the key for a successful future here in Debrecen. We are one plant, one team, which means that we count on each other and appreciate everyone’s contribution and knowledge“.

In addition to initiatives for students and trainees and offering new employment opportunities, the BMW Group will work with local and regional universities to support and implement art and cultural projects. This underlines the BMW Group's guiding principles of being a responsible corporate citizen and engaging with local communities.

“We are delighted that the BMW Group is bringing its latest technologies to Hungary and will produce its newest battery-electric model here in Debrecen in the future,” said Foreign and Trade Minister Péter Szijjártó at the event. “The Training Center will strengthen the cooperation between Hungary and Germany — the joint education and training program will offer young students an excellent perspective for the future.”

The training center at the BMW Group plant in Debrecen is one of the first fully completed buildings on the 400-hectare site that is in operation. The Communication Center will be the next major structure to be completed and in full use.

The BMW Group plant in Debrecen was planned and developed as an iFACTORY. It will be the first production plant in the world to be powered entirely by fossil-free energy. A significant portion of the required energy will be generated by a 50-hectare photovoltaic system directly on the factory premises.

The plant is designed for a production capacity of 150,000 units per year.