BMW to eliminate thousands of jobs in Germany through voluntary redundancy plan
BMW has announced plans to reduce its workforce in Germany by several thousand employees through a voluntary redundancy programme, as the premium automaker intensifies efforts to improve efficiency amid weakening demand in key international markets.
The company confirmed on Wednesday that it had reached an agreement with employee representatives on a severance package that will be implemented by the end of 2027.
According to a BMW spokesperson, the programme will focus on employees working in the company's administrative and development divisions, while production operations will not be affected. The restructuring is based on voluntary departures rather than compulsory layoffs, reflecting an agreement reached with the works council.
A person familiar with the matter indicated that BMW's workforce could shrink by around 8,000 employees over the coming years, although the company has not officially confirmed that figure.
The workforce reduction follows BMW's decision in June to lower its profit forecast for the current financial year. The automaker cited weaker-than-expected sales in China, one of its most important global markets, where demand for vehicles has slowed significantly in recent months.
In response to the deteriorating market environment, Chief Executive Milan Nedeljkovic said the company would accelerate its ongoing cost-reduction programme, seeking to improve operational efficiency while preserving its long-term competitiveness.
Like many global car manufacturers, BMW is navigating a challenging business landscape marked by softer consumer demand, intensifying competition in the electric vehicle market and continued economic uncertainty in several major regions.
By concentrating the restructuring on non-production functions, BMW aims to streamline corporate operations without disrupting manufacturing activities at its German plants, which remain central to the company's global production network.
The voluntary redundancy programme underscores the growing pressure facing Europe's automotive industry as manufacturers balance investment in future technologies—including electrification and digitalization—with the need to control costs in an increasingly competitive global market.
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