BMW will reportedly cut up to 6000 jobs in Germany as part of a cost-savings effort, Auto News reports.
German publication Manager Magazin claims that most of the positions will be eliminated from BMW’s headquarters in Munich, Germany. These job cuts could cut at the same time that management at the car manufacturer faces a bit of a shakeup.
Current research and development head, Klaus Froehlich, is tipped to leave the automaker next summer because he does not want to work with new chief executive Oliver Zipse. It is believed, though, that the automaker’s supervisory board head, Norbert Reithofer, wants him to stay.
Also Read: BMW Wants To Kill Off i3 EV Hatch In Favor Of Other Models
Recently, it was confirmed that BMW purchasing and engine expert Markus Deusmann will leave BMW to become Audi’s new chief executive. Current human resources chief Milagros Caina Carreiro-Andree also recently revealed that she will not renew her contract.
In a statement, BMW did not detail the reported job cuts, but said it continues to recruit in the areas of autonomous driving and electric mobility.
“We are making use of attrition to focus the company even more on the future and to increase efficiency,” the company said in a statement.
BMW is looking to boost efficiency as part of a 12 billion euro ($13.3 billion) savings program that aims to offset increased spending to develop and introduce 25 electrified models. Of these vehicles, 13 will be plug-in hybrids. BMW will also launch a pilot program testing Level 4 and Level 5 autonomous systems early next decade.
