Overview
- Company leaders told staff on Wednesday that the plan targets roughly 8,000 roles worldwide with more than half of the reductions expected in Germany and production posts spared.
- The cuts are concentrated in indirect areas such as administration, development and sales and are meant to be achieved chiefly through a voluntary severance programme that runs from October 2026 until the end of 2027.
- BMW said it expects the measures to improve cost efficiency and aims for about €1 billion of savings to show around 2028 while avoiding operational dismissals through social measures.
- The move follows a June profit warning and rapid negotiations by new CEO Milan Nedeljković who launched the restructuring soon after replacing Oliver Zipse and cited a sharp drop in China sales as the key driver.
- The decision mirrors large-scale cost programmes at other German automakers and could reshape headcounts and pay structures in the sector while tens of thousands of office employees will be offered the severance option.