BMW's Harald Krueger noted the company's recent shuffling of executives should make the company leaner and more competitive.
The BMW Group is reorganizing its Board of Management to create what Is described as a new leaner, future-oriented management structure.
“We are restructuring our divisions to give us the best possible foundation for the future. It sends out a clear signal that our organization is lean and efficient throughout the company,” said Harald Krüger, chairman of the BMW AG Board of Management, speaking in Munich on Friday.
The moves come at a time when carmakers the world over are facing sweeping change and major financial pressures. In fact, BMW recently announced plans to alliance with archrival Mercedes-Benz to address technical issues with autonomous vehicles. German carmakers, such as BMW, also are still reeling from a losing bet on diesel technology that has cost them dearly.
As part of the change, Krüger said effective April 1, the BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce automotive brands will be part of a new central Sales Division. It will be headed by Pieter Nota, member of the BMW AG Board of Management responsible until now for Sales and Brand BMW, Aftersales BMW Group.
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Nota will also remain responsible for additional functions including brand and product management and aftersales. Meanwhile, BMW Motorrad will become part of the Development Division under Management Board member Klaus Fröhlich.
Peter Schwarzenbauer, responsible for Mini, Rolls-Royce, BMW Motorrad, Customer Engagement and Digital Business Innovation BMW Group until the end of the first quarter of 2019, will remain a Member of the BMW AG Board of Management until October. During this period, he will promote the company’s strategical focus on electromobility, then leave the company when he turns 60.
“Over the last six years, Peter Schwarzenbauer has taken Mini and Rolls-Royce as well as BMW Motorrad to new heights and set important impulses in the fields of Mobility Services, Digital Services and Customer Engagement,” said Krüger.
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“We would like to thank him very much for that and have every confidence that his conviction and passion for electromobility will drive our transformation momentum and ensure the successful launch of the Mini Electric.”
With its four brands BMW, Mini, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group considers itself the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. The BMW Group production network comprises 30 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.
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In 2018, the BMW Group sold over 2,490,000 passenger vehicles and more than 165,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2018 was 9.815 billion euros on revenues amounting to 97.5 billion euros.