BMW plans to cut as many as 6,000 jobs in Germany by 2022 as part of its cost-savings effort, according to Manager Magazin.
Most of the positions would be eliminated at the automaker’s headquarters in Munich, Germany, under the plan that could be unveiled in December, the weekly publication reported, without saying where it got the information.
BMW's research and development head, Klaus Froehlich, is expected to leave next summer because he does not want to work with new CEO Oliver Zipse, the magazine also said. BMW supervisory board head Norbert Reithofer wants him to stay, the report said.
BMW has been undergoing a shakeup of top managers.
Manager Magazin said that Ilka Horstmeier was a favorite to head human resources. BMW said on Wednesday that current human resources chief Milagros Caina Carreiro-Andree would not seek a new term, citing personal reasons.
The report also said that Milan Nedeljkovic would take over as head of production, a post that has been vacant since Zipse succeeded Harald Krueger as CEO in August.
In response to Manager Magazin's report, BMW said it aims to keep its 2019 workforce at last year’s level.
"We are making use of attrition to focus the company even more on the future and to increase efficiency," it said in a statement. At the same time, the company said it continues to recruit in areas including autonomous driving and electric mobility.
BMW aims boost efficiency as part of a 12 billion-euro ($13.3 billion) savings program aimed at offsetting increased spending to develop and introduce 25 electrified models.
The automaker is counting on a fresh product lineup and better efficiency to take on rival Mercedes-Benz as waning demand in key markets squeezes profit across the industry.
European car sales fell sharply in August in a further sign of the sector’s deepening woes.
Reuters contributed to this report
