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Press Contact: Hans-Peter Ketterl
Tel: +49-89-382-23923
E-mail: hans-peter.ketterl@bmw.de

BMW Group fosters young thought leaders

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 11:00:00 +0100

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

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Press Contact: Hans-Peter Ketterl
Tel: +49-89-382-23923
E-mail: hans-peter.ketterl@bmw.de

BMW Group fördert junge Vordenker

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 11:00:00 +0100

München. Die Landeshauptstadt München ist 2025 Gastgeber eines der weltweit bedeutendsten Treffen junger Führungskräfte: Dem One Young World Summit. Mit Delegierten aus 196 Ländern zählt die Veranstaltung zu einem der wenigen globalen Ereignisse, das junge Menschen aus allen Kontinenten vereint und ihnen eine Stimme gibt. Die Stadt München, geprägt von einer besonderen Mischung aus Tradition, Innovation und Lebensqualität, ist bereits zum zweiten Mal Gastgeber des Forums und bietet das passende Umfeld für das gemeinsame Ziel, innovative und visionäre Ideen für gesellschaftliche Herausforderungen zu entwickeln.

Ilka Horstmeier, Mitglied des Vorstands der BMW AG, Personal und Immobilien: „Der One Young World Summit 2025 in München bringt junge Führungstalente aus aller Welt zusammen, inspiriert und schafft neue Verbindungen. Bei der BMW Group geht gesellschaftliche Verantwortung weit über unsere Produkte und Unternehmensgrenzen hinaus. Mit unserem Beitrag für die One Young World stärken wir verantwortungsvolle Führung und ermuntern junge Menschen, Haltung zu zeigen und sich für die Lösung wichtiger Zukunftsfragen einzusetzen.“

BMW Group fördert junge Führungskräfte

Die BMW Group nimmt als Premium Partner eine aktive Rolle bei One Young World ein. Das Unternehmen versteht sich als Teil der Gesellschaft und trägt dazu bei, Lösungen für globale Herausforderungen zu finden. Dazu gehört, eine Generation von zukünftigen Führungskräften zu fördern, die sich für eine verantwortungsvolle, gerechte und zukunftsorientierte Gesellschaft einsetzen. Seit 2016 nimmt die BMW Group mit einer eigenen Delegation von engagierten Young Leaders im Alter zwischen 18 und 30 Jahren an dem viertägigen Forum teil. Das Unternehmen sieht das Forum als Chance, einen Beitrag zu einer besseren Zukunft zu leisten. In diesem Jahr richtet die BMW Group erneut die Abschlusszeremonie in der BMW Welt aus, einem Ort, der für Technik, Design und emotionale Erlebnisse steht.

Gemeinsam Veränderungen vorantreiben

Der Summit lädt dazu ein, gesellschaftliche, wirtschaftliche und ökologische Themen zu diskutieren, Wissen und Erfahrungen zu teilen, kritische Fragen zu stellen und dauerhafte Netzwerke zu knüpfen. Die Idee ist, junge, ambitionierte Talente zu befähigen, aktiv Veränderungen voranzutreiben. In der Vielfalt der Teilnehmenden, die aus Wirtschaft, Wissenschaft und von NGOs kommen, und deren leidenschaftlichen Engagement liegt für die BMW Group das Potenzial dieser internationalen Zusammenkunft.

Im Fokus stehen beim diesjährigen Summit, an dem die BMW Group mit über 50 Delegierten teilnimmt, die Themen Bildung, Kreislaufwirtschaft, verantwortungsvolle Technologien, Hassbekämpfung sowie Frieden und Sicherheit. Für noch mehr Impulse und vielseitige Perspektiven sind einflussreiche Persönlichkeiten aus Wirtschaft, Politik, Sport und Kultur zu Gast, darunter auch der einstige Kapitän der deutschen Fußball-Nationalmannschaft sowie Fußball-Weltmeister 2014 Philipp Lahm. Er ist Gesprächspartner von
Ilka Horstmeier bei der Eröffnungszeremonie des Summits in der Olympiahalle am 3. November.

Bildung ist der Schlüssel

In einer Podiumsdiskussion während der vier Kongresstage wird sich Ilka Horstmeier der Frage widmen, wie verantwortungsvolles Leadership dazu beitragen kann, Vertrauen in Institutionen, Wissenschaft und Demokratie wieder zu stärken und welche Schlüsselrolle Bildung dabei spielt. Ihre Gesprächspartner sind seine Exzellenz Miguel Ángel Moratinos, Untergeneralsekretär der Vereinten Nationen und Hoher Repräsentant für die Allianz der Zivilisationen der Vereinten Nationen (UNAOC) sowie Gabriela de la Torre, verantwortlich für Begabtenförderung im mexikanischen Bildungsministerium und Generaldirektorin des Programms „Adopt a Talent“ (Programa Adopte un Talento, PAUTA), das die wissenschaftliche Karriere von Kindern und Jugendlichen in ganz Mexiko durch außerschulische Aktivitäten fördert.

Die BMW Group engagiert sich seit vielen Jahren bei Bildungsinitiativen an ihren Standorten, eine Million Kinder haben bereits davon profitiert. In einer langjährigen Kooperation mit den Vereinten Nationen (UNAOC) werden vor allem Graswurzel-Initiativen gefördert, die Kindern Kenntnisse unter anderem in den MINT-Fächern Mathematik, Informatik, Naturwissenschaften und Technik vermitteln. Es sind wichtige Grundlagen für Berufe in genau jenen Bereichen, die eine Teilhabe am globalen Wirtschaftswachstum ermöglichen.

Darüber hinaus lädt die BMW Group bei dem Summit die Delegierten zu einem interaktiven Workshop ein, der sich mit der Kreislaufwirtschaft beschäftigt. Teilnehmende erfahren, wie sich zirkuläre Prinzipien in Geschäftsideen integrieren lassen und wie auf diese Weise Ressourcen geschont und
CO₂-Emissionen reduziert werden.

Bitte wenden Sie sich bei Rückfragen an:

BMW Group Unternehmenskommunikation

Dr. Hans-Peter Ketterl
Sprecher Personal und Vorstandsmitglied Personal und Immobilien
Tel: +49-89-382-23923
Email: Hans-Peter.Ketterl@bmwgroup.com

Bernd Eckstein
Leiter Kommunikation HR, Immobilien, Kultur, Corporate Citizenship
Telefon: +49-89-382-59490
Email: Bernd.Eckstein@bmwgroup.com

Die BMW Group

Die BMW Group ist mit ihren Marken BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce und BMW Motorrad der weltweit führende Premium-Hersteller von Automobilen und Motorrädern und Anbieter von Premium-Finanzdienstleistungen. Das BMW Group Produktionsnetzwerk umfasst über 30 Produktionsstandorte weltweit; das Unternehmen verfügt über ein globales Vertriebsnetzwerk mit Vertretungen in über 140 Ländern.

Im Jahr 2024 erzielte die BMW Group einen weltweiten Absatz von 2,45 Mio. Automobilen und über 210.000 Motorrädern. Das Ergebnis vor Steuern im Geschäftsjahr 2024 belief sich auf 11,0 Mrd. €, der Umsatz auf 142,4 Mrd. €. Zum 31. Dezember 2024 beschäftigte das Unternehmen weltweit 159.104Mitarbeiterinnen und Mitarbeiter.

Seit jeher sind langfristiges Denken und verantwortungsvolles Handeln die Grundlage des wirtschaftlichen Erfolges der BMW Group. Nachhaltigkeit ist ein wichtiger Bestandteil der Unternehmensstrategie der BMW Group, von der Lieferkette über die Produktion bis zum Ende der Nutzungsphase aller Produkte.

Press Contact: Hans-Peter Ketterl
Tel: +49-89-382-23923
E-mail: hans-peter.ketterl@bmw.de

BMW Group announces senior management changes in Sales and Finance Divisions

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 15:00:00 +0200

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/

Press Contact: Micaela Sandstede
Tel: +49-176-601-61611
E-mail: micaela.sandstede@bmw.de

Dr. Nicolas Peter elected Chairman of Supervisory Board of BMW AG

Wed, 14 May 2025 17:24:00 +0200

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 elected earlier, at the BMW AG Annual General Meeting, 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

www.bmwgroup.com

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

Press Contact: Sebastian Kessler
Tel: +49-89-382-21616
E-mail: sebastian.ke.kessler@bmwgroup.com

Top performance through training and teamwork

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 09:00:00 +0200

Munich. Success is teamwork – this applies to the BMW Group in close collaboration with its external partners as much as it does to successful athletes. Continuous training, constant optimisation and the will to develop are essential in both worlds. With the Partner Academy, the BMW Group is focusing precisely on that. Qualifications and further education are the keys to achieving top performances together with its partners and suppliers, and to securing long-term success.

Superbike world champion and BMW Motorrad factory rider Toprak Razgatlioglu knows that continuous development and collaboration take quality to the next level. He has benefitted from targeted training and a strong team on his way to the top of his sport, while the BMW Group also relies on perfect collaboration with excellent partners.

Toprak Razgatlioglu: The world title – a joint project

”Everything is teamwork,” Razgatlioglu explained when asked about the secret of his success in the 2024 FIM Superbike World Championship. “Working hard on the racetrack every day is not enough to win, but if your team is working hard every day, this is the perfect package. Only then can we make it to the top, as a unit.”

This principle also applies to the BMW Group and its global supplier network. With the Partner Academy, the company specifically promotes qualifications among its suppliers to jointly ensure high quality standards and drive innovation forward.

Partner Academy: Top performances through qualifications
The Partner Academy is the central qualifications platform for worldwide suppliers and partners of the BMW Group. It offers BMW-specific training to ensure the highest standards and meet the growing demands of a dynamic market.

Ilka Horstmeier, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Human Resources and Real Estate, emphasised: “A common understanding is crucial for successful collaboration between us and our partners. Our Partner Academy is more than a platform – it provides our partners with the knowledge, skills and resources they need to shape the future of mobility together with us.”

Dr. Joachim Post, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Purchasing and Supplier Network, added: “Quality is an attitude that accompanies us every day. With the Neue Klasse, we are raising the bar – for ourselves and our supplier network. It is only through excellent collaboration and continuous training that we can ensure that our premium quality standards are maintained along the entire value chain.”

“Better together” – for top performance on both sides
The motto of the Partner Academy says it all: “Better together”. A team that continuously develops and acquires new knowledge works together more efficiently, raises quality levels and lays the foundation for success and growth. Toprak Razgatlioglu concluded: “I didn’t do it on my own – that´s teamwork.”

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

Tel: +49-89-382-23923

E-Mail: Hans-Peter.Ketterl@bmwgroup.com

Florian Moser

Spokesperson BMW Group Purchasing and Supplier Network

Telefon: +49-151-601-62847

E-Mail: Florian.Moser@bmwgroup.com

The BMW Group

www.bmwgroup.com

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

Zeit für neue Perspektiven

Press Contact: Hans-Peter Ketterl
Tel: +49-89-382-23923
E-mail: hans-peter.ketterl@bmw.de

BMW Group tops rankings as most popular employer again

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:53:31 +0100

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

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/

Press Contact: Hans-Peter Ketterl
Tel: +49-89-382-23923
E-mail: hans-peter.ketterl@bmw.de

Setting the course for continuity: BMW AG lines up successor to head the Supervisory Board

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 16:42:36 +0100

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.

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/

Press Contact: Max-Morten Borgmann
Tel: +49-89-382-24118
E-mail: max-morten.borgmann@bmw.de

The new Talent Campus at BMW Group Plant Leipzig: Apprenticeships and training under one roof

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 08:30:00 +0100

Leipzig. Every year 65 young people start their vocational training at BMW Group Plant Leipzig. In the future, more than 6,200 employees a year will develop their skills too, in specifically tailored courses and seminars. For the first time, Leipzig’s new Talent Campus brings together vocational training and skills development – under one roof. The new building officially opened on 25 October.

The Talent Campus offers 6,000 m² of space in total across two floors. For those doing their vocational training, it is equipped with automotive, CNC, mechatronics and mechanical workshops as well as spaces for pneumatics, mechatronics and IT/AR/VR. For employees undergoing skills development, it offers e-mobility workshops for SPS control technologies, robotics and automation as well as practical training multifunctional spaces and seminar rooms. The entire building is designed to be accessible and, along with all the equipment, it came in at an investment of 16 million euros.

Nicole Haft-Zboril, Head of BMW Group Real Estate Management: “This new Talent Campus is an investment in a flexible, needs-focused training infrastructure at our Leipzig site. The construction project has been successfully completed – thanks in large part to our collaboration with our partner, the City of Leipzig – and the building has been handed over in time for the start of the academic year.”

The Talent Campus offers training and development for a wide range of participants, from apprentices to managers. Courses and programmes centre on working with high-voltage electricity for new battery systems and on digitalisation, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence, to develop the skills that will be vital in the car industry of the future. Moritz Kippenberger, Vice President HR Services, Recruiting, Qualification: “To rise to the challenges that lie ahead, we need new skills and abilities. At the BMW Group, we are preparing and supporting all our employees by giving them the training and education they need to make the BMW Group electric, digital and circular. It’s a change process that we are undertaking with them.”

BMW Group Plant Leipzig is steadily growing in terms of employees, buildings and production volume. When it opened in 2005, it employed around 2,600 people. Today there are over 6,000. Plant Director Petra Peterhänsel: “Investments in training and development are key to the transformation of our industry. We are securing the future of our site by fostering young talent and offering attractive skills development options to keep our longer-standing employees with us on our journey to electric and digital mobility.”

Training and education has always been important and integral to the BMW Group’s culture. Over the last three years, the training rate at Plant Leipzig has risen by 44 percent. The site currently offers five apprenticeships: production mechanic, IT system electronics technician, automotive mechatronics technician, mechatronics technician and industrial mechanic. This year BMW Group Plant Leipzig is also home to the state of Saxony’s Best Apprentice.

Jens Köhler, Works Council Chairman at Plant Leipzig: “Training has been an integral part of our history ever since the plant was established. I am proud that by opening this Talent Campus, we are establishing training and education at our plant with a physical entity on our premises. We have enabled a cutting-edge learning environment that offers practical, hands-on training and is a fundamental component of our site.”

To ensure it has the skills it needs for the years ahead, the BMW Group has long been systematically identifying training needs, to be properly prepared for the future of individual mobility.

Press Contact: Kai Lichte
Tel: +49-341-445-38000
E-mail: kai.lichte@bmwgroup.com

“An invitation to step up and get involved”

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 09:00:00 +0200

Munich.

Björn Sommer, Sibusiso Thusi, Karin Kollross and Graham Darab are the recipients of this year's BMW Group Award for Social Responsibility. Their commitment deserves recognition. The official award ceremony was held on 16 September in Munich. The four winners are actively involved with social causes in Germany, South Africa and Bolivia. With passion and dedication, they empower the families of children with cancer, support disadvantaged youth, provide aid to street children and help individuals struggling with addiction by offering them new opportunities. With this Award, every year, the BMW Group honours associates worldwide who demonstrate exceptional commitment to the common good. Each winner receives prize money of 10,000 euros for their project.

“The BMW Group Award for Social Responsibility is truly inspiring. It highlights the profound impact individual dedication can have and shows how commitment to others strengthens the entire community. Our associates are driving change by developing practical solutions to social problems. Their projects create a positive impact and serve as an invitation to everyone to step up and get involved,” says Ilka Horstmeier, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for People and Real Estate, who is also patron of the Award.

Appreciation for the whole team

The BMW Group Award for Social Responsibility has been highly regarded within the company for many years, achieving an impact that extends far beyond simply recognising the individuals involved. Around 100 associates worldwide submitted entries for the BMW Group Award this year. Behind each winning project is a whole team of dedicated helpers within the organisations themselves, who also receive recognition and appreciation through the Award. Volunteers find their involvement in social causes deeply enriching, motivated by the desire to give back to the community. One of the winners described the experience of being able to help as “grounding you and making you grateful”.

Here are the 2024 award-winners:

Sibusiso Thusi, who works in HR at Plant Rosslyn in South Africa, is the recipient of the Vera-und-Volker-Doppelfeld Award, which fosters commitment among young people. Sibusiso helps schoolchildren in South Africa discover their talents and realise their professional dreams. As a mentor with the “Young Aspiring Thinkers” initiative, he goes into public schools in economically disadvantaged areas to help children make up learning deficits, prepare them for internships and share insights into the world of work. He knows from experience that education is key to them taking control of their own lives.

Björn Sommer, a process and digitalisation expert based in Munich, possesses true pioneering spirit: He is developing a digital patient companion to support the families of children with cancer, aimed at improving their quality of life. His project garnered the interest of a team of colleagues: Together, under the umbrella of the association “Initiative for Children with Cancer Munich”, they developed a digital platform that consolidates all information relating to their illness.

Karin Kollross, who works in Technology Materials and Process Analytics in Munich, is deeply committed to helping street children in the Bolivian city of Cochabamba. She first experienced the plight of local children as a backpacker, later discovering the project “Emanuel Foundation – Children with a Future”. The initiative established a home for children whose mothers work in the neighbouring red-light district. Karin is working to ensure the continued existence of this safe haven.

Graham Darab, MINI brand manager for the company's branches in central Germany, helps people break the cycle of addiction. As a trained addiction counsellor, he leads a self-help group at the “Living without addiction”association, where he helps people overcome addiction by maintaining a stable lifestyle and avoiding relapse. He also serves as one of the BMW Group’s addiction officers, undertaking important prevention efforts.

SOCIAL DRIVE consolidates social commitment

Assuming social responsibility is one of the BMW Group's core values, having encouraged social commitment among associates for many years. The SOCIAL DRIVE initiative consolidates volunteer activities at the company: Alongside the BMW Group Award for Social Responsibility, the SOCIAL DRIVE platform forms the heart of the initiative. This is where associates showcase their social causes, connect with one another and recruit new members. The platform provides an easy way for individuals or teams to learn about and get involved in various projects.

Press Contact: Jana Fenn
Tel: +49-151-601-23019
E-mail: jana.fenn@bmwgroup.com

Learning for the future – with artificial intelligence and virtual reality

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 09:00:00 +0200

Munich. At the BMW Group’s Munich site, a powerful symbol is emerging: the new Talent Campus. Soon to become the company’s education centre, the Campus will provide training and professional development for some 40,000 employees in Munich – including 900 apprentices and 300 participants on young talent programmes. The state-of-the-art building will include training spaces with the latest technologies for innovative learning, as well as workshops and a public café. It will show clearly the importance of training and lifelong learning at the BMW Group. Professional training and lifelong learning are essential for the company’s successful transition to electric, digital, circular mobility. Education is key not just to staying innovative and competitive but also for employees’ future prospects in the fast-changing world of work.

On 15 July, World Youth Skills Day, the BMW Group will be raising awareness of the many opportunities and prospects for upskilling provided by the range of entry-level training courses and continuing professional development (CPD).

Variety of entry routes

The BMW Group offers young people a wide range of employment prospects in a variety of exciting skill areas. Entry-level training includes internships, apprenticeships, student apprenticeships and young talent programmes for outstanding school, university and PhD students as well as graduates.

The training programmes focus primarily on electronics and automation, IT and e-mobility, with some 30 apprenticeship programmes and about 20 student apprenticeships in STEM subjects available worldwide. Across the globe, the BMW Group fosters about 5,200 young talents, with approx. 1,200 apprenticeship places and 140 places on young talent programmes at BMW AG in Germany alone.

There’s one thing all the programmes have in common: a focus on developing talents and nurturing personal strengths while adopting a holistic approach to education that takes into account the learners’ individual personalities.

Focus on developing talents and strengths

The BMW Group offers a host of opportunities for young people to broaden their horizons and apply their strengths. Those at German sites, for example, all take part in workshops exploring strengths, to help them identify not just their own special talents but those of their colleagues as well. They are also given positions where their skills are needed and they can continue to develop professionally.

Apprentices and student apprentices can also apply for a place on the global exchange programme MOVE, where they get to experience a practical assignment at a site in the BMW Group production network, whether in Germany or abroad. During the course of the programme, they take on two international assignments. Undergraduates and PhD students can also do an internship or orientation assignment in the global network. MOVE is an excellent opportunity for young people to develop their intercultural skills and flexibility and expand their networks across multiple sites.

Meanwhile, the Talent Factory sees apprentices and student apprentices work in interdisciplinary teams, just like they would in a startup. From their first year on the programme, they get to develop products and services themselves, to provide real solutions for real customers and nurture their creativity and innovativeness. The Talent Factory is still in its infancy and being established at all sites worldwide.

Personal talent development is also at the heart of the AcceleratiON programme for apprentices. This includes careers workshops, coaching, mentoring for personal skills development, and practical assignments in Germany and abroad. Participants in the scholarship and trainee programme can tailor their assignments, projects and insights into the various areas of the company in a wide range of ways to suit their personal interests and strengths.

Lifelong learning as part of everyday working life

Technology is developing at breakneck speed, so new knowledge and skills are essential, especially in the fields of electrics and electronics. Training in the field of high-voltage electricity is needed for new battery systems, agile working methods and digitalisation, with a focus on artificial intelligence. That’s why CPD is an established and integral part of everyday working life.

Munich’s new Talent Campus will also be home to the BMW Group Academy, when it moves in. Established as the BMW Group’s very own educational institution, the Academy offers more than 4,000 different courses, all tailored to suit the needs of the company. To keep pace with technological advances, course content is regularly updated in conjunction with the specialist departments. The BMW Group Academy also works with external training organisations to ensure the best possible instruction.

Fit for the future with Digital Boost

One practical example of instruction is Digital Boost, introduced under the umbrella of the BMW Group Academy in 2023. This CPD format is the biggest training programme in the history of the company and readying some 80,000 employees for the digital future. It encompasses a multitude of practical examples of digital applications and technologies. One focal point is the course modules on artificial intelligence. AI skills are now needed in every profession, so they are already an integral part of entry-level training at the BMW Group. Digital Boost also familiarises learners the basics of the cloud, the metaverse and data analytics. Young people at the Munich, Regensburg and Dingolfing sites can already do a module on AI in their student apprenticeships for a BSc.

Fun with innovative learning formats

To familiarise employees worldwide with a wide variety of departments, course content is tailored to suit their personal skill levels. AI applications, virtual reality simulations, avatars and animations take them on an exciting learning journey, with features such as an interactive activity based on an escape room. Virtual and augmented reality create a multi-sensory experience for particularly impactful learning, with avatars – created in minutes by AI – explaining course content in videos. This ensures knowledge is conveyed quickly and credibly – and also offers a crucial advantage: content can be imparted in any language, adapted to suit the culture and applied worldwide. In 2024, the BMW Group and BMW Group Academy jointly earned eLearning awards in three categories.

Outlook: Training and young talent programmes make Germany a more attractive business location

At the BMW Group, skills development means being part of a living, inspiring learning ecosystem. Lifelong learning – and especially the focus on subject areas of the future – is impactful in many ways: it keeps employees relevant over the longer term and contributes to their personal and professional development. The effects can also be felt beyond the confines of the company, as skills development creates future-focused jobs and ultimately makes Germany more innovative as an industrial base.

Topics and stories at the BMW Group

On selected National and International Days, the BMW Group will be presenting stories and information relating to the day that’s being marked. So, if there’s something you’d like to know more about, let us know. We’ll tell you more and introduce you to interesting people at the BMW Group.

In 2024 the BMW Group will also be marking further days of observance and action with stories and information:

16 August: World “Bratwurst Day”

14 September: World First Aid Day

9 October: Fire Prevention Day

30 November: Computer Security Day

3 December: International Day of People with Disabilities

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.

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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Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup

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

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

Press Contact: Hans-Peter Ketterl
Tel: +49-89-382-23923
E-mail: hans-peter.ketterl@bmw.de

Architecture sets the tone

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 21:59:41 +0200

+++ BMW Group creates spaces for collaboration +++ Iconic works by Karl Schwanzer, Zaha Hadid and the Vienna architect team Coop Himmelb(l)au +++ Architecture Day on 29 and 30 June +++

Munich. The BMW Group headquarters in Munich, the neighbouring BMW Welt and the BMW Group Plant Leipzig have one thing in common: they are three award-winning architectural landmarks where aesthetics and functionality form a successful dialogue. They amaze and delight both inside and out, and demonstrate that the architecture of a commercial corporation also means responsibility — for the people who work in the buildings and for the cityscape that shapes them. In Munich, the Group headquarters, together with BMW Welt, have become a figurehead of the Bavarian state capital.

“At the BMW Group, people and places go hand in hand. When planning new buildings, we always take a holistic view. What spatial structure the respective areas require, what environment our employees need for good teamwork and how we use space efficiently are central aspects to be considered. Architecture creates something lasting. At the BMW Group, we see it as part of our social responsibility to make a valuable contribution to our employees and our environment,” says Ilka Horstmeier, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, People and Real Estate, and Labour Relations Director.

Architecture Day on 29 and 30 June is an occasion for the BMW Group to take a look at its iconic buildings and show how architecture creates spaces for innovation and modern ways of working.

At the BMW Group, real estate and personnel development are closely interlinked. Employees, their respective competencies and required space work together and determine building structures. Sustainable and optimal space planning, particularly in light of energy consumption, is just as important as creating a positive and pleasant room atmosphere in which employees feel comfortable. Successful interior design is based on the needs of the people who work there. It promotes efficiency, interactions and creativity. It is when a brilliant and fitting idea is consistently and confidently implemented in command of what is possible. This corporate culture is a recurring thread throughout the BMW Group’s architectural statements.

A landmark shapes the BMW Group’s architectural language

The BMW Group headquarters in Munich, the distinctive four-cylinder engine, has achieved world fame. The landmark completed in 1972, planned by Austrian architect Professor Karl Schwanzer, was bold and visionary at the time. The construction alone — from top to bottom using a suspended structure — was and is spectacular. The building became the springboard for the company’s architectural philosophy, which still applies today: a precise, timeless and self-confident design language represents the Group to the outside world and at the same time forges a building structure that creates meeting places and functional spaces for efficient work processes inside.

BMW Welt: Architecture enhances experience

The approach that architecture creates places of encounter was consistently implemented with BMW Welt, which opened in 2007 at the Group location in Munich. Here, the BMW Group brands — BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad — come alive, people from all nations meet, future topics become visible. Designed by the Viennese team of architects Coop Himmelb(l)au, the futuristic building, which is connected to the corporate headquarters and the BMW Museum via a dynamically spanned bridge, attracts an audience of millions of every year. It is impossible to imagine Munich’s cityscape without the listed BMW Welt, the company’s shop window, as it were. It is a building that wows people — both inside and outside — and whose visit lives long in the memory.

Transparency at BMW Group plant in Leipzig

The BMW Group plant in Leipzig also joins the ranks of architectural icons. The building, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects of London and opened in 2005, is another example of how architecture supports communication and encounter. The building, which was awarded the German Architecture Prize, works with maximum transparency: the manufactured cars float on a 600-metre-long, open conveyor line through the building, visible to everyone, even from the canteen. Working in the building is characterised by short distances between production areas, transparent and efficient work processes, and a high level of communication and cooperation across specialist areas.

Architecture creates spaces for new ways of working

Working environments are changing, job requirements have changed. At the BMW Group, employees work together in cross-thematic and cross-functional teams; meetings and knowledge-sharing are encouraged. Architecture creates the spaces for this future-oriented work: workplaces are used flexibly, there are meeting areas that enable spontaneous and low-threshold meetings, and in addition, retreat spaces allow concentrated work. Design goes beyond purely functional requirements: architecture has the potential to design places where employees feel comfortable and promote innovative thinking and creative exchange. The BMW Group is pursuing this approach with ConnectedWorkplace and is implementing it at all existing and new locations worldwide.

Talent Campus as a meeting place

The modern Talent Campus, which is currently being built at the Group site in Munich and is becoming the BMW Group’s new training and continuing education hub, is a good example of how architecture creates spaces for collaboration and at the same time how a building enriches its environment. In the modern structure, which is transparently designed with large windows and in which the more than 40,000 employees in Munich will receive training and continuing education in the future, the rooms are open and can be used in variable ways. The room layout can be adjusted or retrofitted at any time, making the construction particularly sustainable. The redesigned green spaces become a meeting point between production and the neighbourhood, and a public café invites visitors to exchange ideas. The construction also moves with the times: while in the four-cylinder façade elements made from cast aluminium processes were the eye-catcher, the Talent Campus is a wooden structure. The renewable raw material creates a natural effect and a warm room atmosphere that invites you to learn.

Parent plant in Munich: Working environments allow networking

Employees are also dealing with new topics in terms of content. Digitalisation and electric mobility require a new working environment. The restructuring of the BMW Group parent plant in Munich, not far from the Group headquarters, shows just how profound this change is. The parent plant is being redesigned as the largest investment project in the company’s history to produce the all-electric Neue Klasse in the future. This is where content transformation and architectural development go hand in hand. Once again, visionary thinking is about to break ground: as part of the architecture competition, the two architecture firms OMA from Rotterdam and 3XN from Copenhagen have created visions that enable technologies and employees to be networked. In the long term, the aim is to create a connection between the plant site and the neighbourhood and city. This is of particular importance here, as the main plant is located in an urban environment.

Press Contact: Tim Holzmueller
Tel: +49-151-601-33309
E-mail: tim.holzmueller@bmwgroup.com

When the world comes together

Mon, 13 May 2024 09:24:35 +0200

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.

Press Contact: Jana Fenn
Tel: +49-151-601-23019
E-mail: jana.fenn@bmwgroup.com

ESMT Berlin and BMW Group enter third year of Change Maker Fellowships with a focus on digitalization.

Sat, 11 May 2024 10:00:00 +0200

The BMW Group Change Maker Fellowship builds on the long-term partnership between ESMT and the BMW Group. After supporting displaced women from Ukraine and young professionals from Central and Eastern Europe, the 2024 edition will focus on digitalization to cultivate tech-savvy future leaders in key countries.

“We at the BMW Group are deeply committed to making positive changes in the world. We also recognize that a multilateral and decentralized approach must be taken to achieve this goal. Therefore, I am very delighted that we are partnering again with ESMT to support young professionals. It is our common goal to help them become the leaders we need to shape future individual mobility”, says Ilka Horstmeier, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, People and Real Estate, and Labour Relations Director.

“The integration of technical and business knowledge is crucial to develop leaders capable of addressing the complex challenges of the future, thereby making a significant positive impact on their organizations and society,” adds Jörg Rocholl, President of ESMT. “I am delighted to continue our partnership with BMW Group. With their support, we are able to cultivate the next generation of change makers and innovators.”

The ESMT Global Online MBA is the first completely online program at the international business school. Decision-making, analytics, and innovation are at the core of the program. The innovative course design is modular and allows students to study at times that fit their schedules and at their own pace. Students may complete the program in 24 months or take up to five years. There is no physical attendance required, so students may participate from any location.

BMW Group Change Maker Fellowship application requirements include:

ESMT Global Online MBA general application requirements
Hold an undergraduate degree, or current employment, in mathematics and/or technology (e.g., computing, information technology, automation, digitalization)
Be aged 30 or younger on September 1, 2024
Be a citizen or permanent resident of Germany, India, Portugal, Romania, or South Africa; those holding refugee status in Germany are also invited to apply.
When applying for the BMW Group Change Maker Fellowships, candidates will be asked to answer the following question: the BMW Group seeks to actively shape the future of mobility; what aspect of a digital future fascinates you the most and why?

In total, the BMW Group currently employs over 9,400 people worldwide in IT & software development. It has been pooling the company's IT expertise in IT and software hubs worldwide since 2018. In addition to the locations in Germany, South Africa, the USA, Portugal and China, there are now two more in Romania and India. The hubs have their own distinctive tech culture and a high degree of autonomy, making them attractive places to work for regional talent pools. This is why we are offering the 2024 Change Maker Fellowships with focus on digitalization to select countries of our BMW Group IT-Hub network.

More information on the fellowship and the application process may be found here.

If you have any questions, please contact:

BMW Group Corporate Communications

Milena Pighi
Communications Human Resources, Working Environment, Real Estate, Corporate Citizenship
Spokesperson Corporate Citizenship
Email: milena.pa.pighi@bmw.de
Telephone: +49-89-382-66563
Media website: https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en
Email: presse@bmwgroup.com

ESMT Berlin
Kim Matthies
PR Manager
Email: kim.matthies@esmt.org
Telephone: +49-151-1457-1830

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.

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

About ESMT Berlin
ESMT Berlin is a leading global business school with its campus in the heart of Berlin. Founded by 25 global companies, ESMT offers master, MBA, and PhD programs, as well as executive education on its campus in Berlin, in locations around the world, online, and in online blended format. Focusing on leadership, innovation, and analytics, its diverse faculty publishes outstanding research in top academic journals. Additionally, the international business school provides an interdisciplinary platform for discourse between politics, business, and academia. ESMT is a non-profit private institution of higher education with the right to grant PhDs and is accredited by AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS, and ZEvA. It is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion across all its activities and communities.

Press Contact: Milena Pighi
Tel: +49-89-382-66563
E-mail: milena.pa.pighi@bmw.de

Technology is (also) for women

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 09:00:00 +0100

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 wanted 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.

Press Contact: Jana Fenn
Tel: +49-151-601-23019
E-mail: jana.fenn@bmwgroup.com

Appointment of new leadership in the Corporate Communication & Public Affairs division of the BMW Group

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 10:34:43 +0100

+++ Sourour Stanke takes on responsibility for Strategy, Services, Media House, Market Communications Europe, China in the Corporate Communication & Public Affairs division of the BMW Group +++

Munich. On 1 February, Sourour Stanke (44) joined the core leadership team of Global Corporate Communications, enriching the division with her vast experience in communications and PR as well as her international background.

As head of the central department "Strategy, Services, Media House, Market Communications Europe, China," she reports directly to Maximilian Schöberl, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communication and Public Affairs.

Sourour Stanke has more than 20 years of leadership experience in globally operating companies. Since 2017, she held the position of Head of Corporate Communications & Government Affairs at Giesecke+Devrient, where she led the global communication efforts, political communication, and brand management, thereby significantly shaping the overall transformation of the company into a global security tech player.

The ability to navigate change, while balancing tradition and modernity, has also defined her professional career in various management positions at renowned companies such as Siemens AG and Linde AG.

With her appointment, Ms. Stanke brings new perspectives and strategic approaches, tech-savviness, as well as valuable expertise in market support and the development of innovative event formats, to the communication work of the BMW Group.

Press Contact: Hans-Peter Ketterl
Tel: +49-89-382-23923
E-mail: hans-peter.ketterl@bmw.de

BMW Group to build state-of-the-art Talent Campus in Munich

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 10:00:00 +0100

+++ Cutting-edge training centre +++ due for completion in 2025 +++ timber construction +++ public café will integrate campus into neighbourhood +++

Munich. The BMW Group is to set up a state-of-the-art Talent Campus in Munich. The new building will be erected in the northeast of the home plant, on the site of the former carpark on Riesenfeldstraße. Together with Munich’s existing buildings and training spaces, the new structure will form an open campus that provides training and education for the BMW Group’s approx. 40,000 Munich-based employees – 900 trainees among them. It will be home not only to cutting-edge training spaces and workshops but also a staff restaurant and a public café. In addition, new green spaces will integrate production seamlessly into the neighbourhood. The new Talent Campus will open for business in the summer of 2025.

“Training and education are key to our transformation and to making the BMW Group electric, digital and circular. With the new Talent Campus, we are investing in a flexible, needs-based education infrastructure for our Munich site and adding another crucial component in the global training and education campaign that will make the BMW Group fit for the future,” said Ilka Horstmeier, Member of the Board of Management at BMW AG, People and Real Estate, Labour Relations Director.

Peter Weber, Director at BMW Group Plant Munich added: “BMW Group Plant Munich is currently preparing to produce the Neue Klasse, and our employees will be crucial to its success. I am very proud indeed that our main plant will be home to a cutting-edge training centre that will benefit the whole of the BMW Group. With the new centre, we are creating the infrastructure needed to ready specialists in every area of car production for the future.”

Martin Kimmich, Chairman of the General Works Council, BMW AG, emphasised: “The BMW AG Works Council has long been committed to this Talent Campus, and we are delighted that our vision is now becoming a reality, with construction about to start. Given the lack of skilled workers, investments in training and education are key for the future viability of our company.”

Timber structure

The new Talent Campus will be built largely from wood, which will also be visible on the façade. This will lend warmth to the interior as well as a natural look to the outside. The generous windows will let plenty of daylight into every part of the building for the optimum learning atmosphere. The spaces themselves will be open and usable in various ways, with layouts that can be modified and upgraded at any time. This will extend the life of the structure as it can be adapted to meet changing needs without requiring major building works. The entire building will offer barrier-free accessibility.

State-of-the-art learning environment

The combination of cutting-edge equipment, a high-tech learning environment and natural materials will offer perfect conditions for successful learning. The Talent Campus will allow BMW Group trainees and employees to develop all the skills they need for the future automotive industry. It will provide training and education for people across the Munich site. In addition, the aim is to make selected spaces available for public training courses. The new building will incorporate not just classrooms but also workshops, a staff canteen and a public café.

Press Contact: Tim Holzmueller
Tel: +49-151-601-33309
E-mail: tim.holzmueller@bmwgroup.com

Training center opened at BMW Group plant in Debrecen

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 09:30:00 +0100

+++ 100 students starting training in Debrecen +++ 6,500m² state of the art Training Centre for associates and students +++ Milestone on the road to NEUE KLASSE +++

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.

Press Contact: Tim Holzmueller
Tel: +49-151-601-33309
E-mail: tim.holzmueller@bmwgroup.com

“We can achieve so much together”: Winners of the BMW Group Award for Social Responsibility 2023

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 10:00:00 +0200

Munich. When others need help, they are there: Cristiano Alano, Anke Boysen, Markus Entter and Thomas Fahnauer are the winners of the 12th BMW Group Award for Social Responsibility. The official ceremony was held on 14 September in Munich. The Award pays tribute to employees worldwide who are active as volunteers. Each winner receives prize money of 10,000 euros for their project.

The BMW Group Award shines a light on social commitment at the company, inspires others to get involved and promotes social initiative among the workforce. “Every year, this award ceremony fills me with tremendous pride. It’s great that we have associates who take responsibility and are committed to helping others – and it’s amazing what they are able to accomplish in their free time. With this Award, we pay tribute to this dedication and send a clear message: If everyone gives just a little bit of their time for others, we can achieve so much together,” said Ilka Horstmeier, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, People and Real Estate, Labour Relations Director, and patron of the award.

Helping people in need

The BMW Group Award is highly regarded within the company and forges connections between volunteers. This year, once again, more than 100 associates competed for one of the four awards. From these, the judges selected 11 projects for the final round, with all nominees attending the award ceremony. All of these dedicated employees have one thing in common: They donate their time and their know-how to improve the lives of people who are socially disadvantaged or in need. All finalists receive 2,500 euros each for their initiatives.

Here are this year’s four award-winners

Markus Entter, winner of the employee vote, works at the BMW Group in Munich and volunteers as a hospice helper at St. Vinzenz Hospiz in Augsburg. He accompanies those who are seriously ill on the last stage of their life’s journey. With empathy, compassion and the gift of time, he helps dispel people’s fear of death and dying. When practical help is needed, he prepares light meals, brings food and drinks to hospice patients, or simply assists the carers. He also provides relatives with emotional support.

Cristiano Alano, winner of the Vera and Volker Doppelfeld Award, works at BMW Group Plant Araquari in Brazil and advocates for disadvantaged young people in an impoverished district of the city of Joinville. Social mobility through a good school education is the aim of the initiative ASSOCIAÇÃO PROJETO RESGATE. Alano is especially dedicated to fostering character development and encouraging young people to be more confident and independent. As a mentor, he teaches them techniques for resolving social issues.

Anke Boysen, who works at the BMW Group in Munich, is passionate about training rescue dogs for aid missions. As a dog handler with the ISAR Germany Foundation, she even accompanies the rescue dog team on missions worldwide – most recently, following the earthquake in Turkey. The specially trained rescue dogs are able to find people who have become buried and help save lives.

Thomas Fahnauer,who works at BMW Group Plant Araquari, volunteers with the ONG Esperanca Brasil initiative, building simple homes for homeless people out of wooden pallets. He was motivated by the sometimes appalling living conditions of people in Brazil who often do not have a decent home. The wooden pallets were previously used as packaging material for ship transportation. Their continued use also helps the project contribute to climate protection.

BMW Group Award: Invitation to join in

Taking social responsibility is part of the BMW Group’s identity. To this end, the company has encouraged social engagement among its employees for years. The BMW Group Award for Social Responsibility honours the personal commitment of its associates in a unique way. Together with the SOCIAL DAYS and SOCIAL DRIVE IT platform, it is one of the three pillars of SOCIAL DRIVE, which pools employees’ volunteer activities. The SOCIAL DAYS held to mark various occasions aim to promote interest in social commitment among associates and encourage them to get actively involved. The SOCIAL DRIVE IT platform offers a wide range of activities and gives dedicated employees the opportunity to find supporters for their projects, giving further momentum to social commitment.

Press Contact: Jana Fenn
Tel: +49-151-601-23019
E-mail: jana.fenn@bmwgroup.com

BMW Group Awards for Social Commitment presented

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 10:00:00 +0100

Munich. The BMW Group has once again recognised employees around the world for their outstanding social commitment this year. The BMW Group Awards for Social Commitment were presented to five employees, two of whom received special awards from the Vera and Volker Doppelfeld Foundation. Each award is endowed with 5,000 euros, which benefits the respective service projects directly. This year's award-winners come from India, Germany and South Africa. Owing to the special circumstances this year, five additional finalists will each receive a financial award of 2,500 euros, which will also benefit these employees’ service projects.

“Courageous commitment to society is increasingly important, especially in unprecedented times like the current pandemic. Encouraging every individual to take responsibility is a priority for me. Our Employee Awards contribute to this by recognising our associates’ commitment,” explained Ilka Horstmeier, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Human Resources and patron of the award.

Many BMW Group employees are involved in volunteering – in their own region or in international projects. The diversity of this commitment is also reflected by the candidates for the award: The 111 applications submitted came from 16 different countries. Due to current hygiene requirements, this year’s award ceremony was held as a digital event broadcast to different locations worldwide.

International commitment

After just six months with the BMW Group, Sankar Sundaralingam from Chennai, India has been recognised with the BMW Award for his Ooruni Foundation. As a co-founder and trustee, Sundaralingam has been involved since 2015 in providing an educational support programme for AIDS orphans and organising a job market for people with disabilities, as well as collecting food donations for people in need and launching various environmental campaigns. He plans to use the cash prize to finance the studies of 22 young people.

Ludwig Donharl has worked as an energy maintenance engineer at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing since 1987. He has shown a selfless dedication to helping young people in Kenya since taking a holiday there in 2017 – building a school for 200 children and eight teachers largely on his own initiative. Donharl realises a wide range of different projects with the donations he collects, including supporting a young man who had suffered an accident and needed an operation so he could return to work. Donharl’s colleagues recognised his outstanding personal commitment with the BMW Group Associate Award, which was presented for the first time this year. All company employees had the chance to choose one of the award-winners in an online vote.

Jörg Kaufmann founded the Children's Cancer Research Society. As its chairman, he and the organisation’s 45 members set themselves the goal of making childhood cancers curable – no matter how rare the cancer may be. The association has funded research projects worth more than one million euros over the past ten years. The organisation's biggest success so far was in promoting an antibody therapy that has now become well established. The prize money from the BMW Group Award will benefit a cancer research project at the Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital in Munich.

The Vera and Volker Doppelfeld Foundation will present not one, but two special awards this year. One of these will go to another founder: Solly Makgatho from South Africa. The production employee realised there was great need for safe accommodation for children in his community. While volunteering as a legal advisor, he submitted his idea for a separate relief organisation to the government – laying the foundation for the Gauteng Community Organisation (GCO) in 2011. Since then, the organisation has provided no fewer than 120 orphans with shelter, care and education. The children live in so-called “Green Houses” offering safety, meals and therapy. The financial award will be used to renovate existing accommodation.

The Doppelfeld Foundation's second special award went to Sipho Machaka, also from South Africa. In addition to working in the paint shop at Plant Rosslyn, he also serves as a mentor, advisor and trainer at the Golden Youth Club (NPO). This dynamic initiative offers dance, art and music projects so children and teenagers can occupy their time in a meaningful way. There are also opportunities for the young people to educate themselves about environmental topics and human rights. Machaka himself teaches them how to live a sustainable lifestyle and seeks to boost their self-esteem. It is already clear what the next project will be: He wants to use the financial award to set up a youth centre.

Since there can be no official award ceremony this year, due to the pandemic, the BMW Group has decided to offer all remaining finalists a financial award. The employees will each receive 2,500 euros for their efforts to ensure disadvantaged families in Kenya can afford health insurance; to support people with disabilities in Tunisia; to provide hospice care; to develop a test system to identify Covid-19 infections; and to give people with Down syndrome in South Africa the chance of living a fulfilling life. The BMW Group Awards for Social Commitment have been presented since 2011. Almost 1,000 projects have been showcased and 38 award-winners honoured to date.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Corporate Communications

Angela Konert, Corporate Communications, Human Resources

Telephone: +49 89 382-50591, Angela.Konert@bmw.de

Eckhard Wannieck, head of Corporate and Culture Communications

Telephone: +49 89 382-24544, 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 31 production and assembly facilities in 15 countries; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2019, the BMW Group sold over 2.5 million passenger vehicles and more than 175,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2019 was € 7.118 billion on revenues amounting to € 104.210 billion. As of 31 December 2019, the BMW Group had a workforce of 126,016 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.

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