It is claimed that BMW chief executive Harald Krüger’s job is far from secure as the carmaker looks to shift towards electric and autonomous vehicles, Auto News reports.
People reportedly close to discussions within BMW, including some supervisory board members, are said to be raising questions about whether he is the right choice moving forward. Krüger’s current tenure at the head of the brand ends next May and an announcement regarding his future is reportedly due in June or July.
“There are doubts about Krüger’s perspectives as CEO of BMW — internally and externally,” Metzler Bank analyst Juergen Pieper said. “Results of the past four years are mixed, profitability is turning down quite substantially,” and “there are no clear strategic signals.”
Also Read: Daimler Sees An Opportunity To “Pool Our Technological Resources” With BMW
Krüger took up his post at BMW in 2015 but has allegedly failed to stamp his authority on the management board. It is thought that the company is struggling to agree on technology spending and new partnerships moving forward.
Of particular concern within the company are the limited number of partnerships that are being pursued. While BMW did merge its car-sharing business with Daimler last year, some within the brand reportedly want to see more partnerships formed in the belief that this will hold the Bavarian giant in good stead moving forward in the age of electrification and autonomy.
BMW was once considered a leader in electrification when it unveiled the i3 back in 2013, well ahead of its premium competition. However, a lack of new electric vehicles from the company has seen it squandered its lead, with the likes of Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar also releasing electric SUVs aimed at competing with the Tesla Model X.
