BMW Group has named Hans-Peter Kemser as plant director for its new factory in Debrecen, Hungary.
Kemser, 56, will become plant manager on Jan. 1 and will oversee its construction starting in January, BMW said in a statement.
The factory will begin building cars underpinned by BMW's electric-focused New Class architecture in 2025.
BMW had planned to open the 1 billion euro ($1.17 billion) factory in Hungary by 2023 to produce 150,000 vehicles a year, but the automaker delayed the project in May 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Kemser will take over management of the site in Debrecen, eastern Hungary, which currently consists of just a few foundations, roads and a rail siding. The first buildings will be erected at the start of the new year.
He moves to the new post from his job as manager of the Leipzig plant in Germany. Petra Peterhänsel, currently head of painted body at the Dingolfing plant, will take charge at Leipzig.
Kemser has overseen the Leipzig plant since 2015 and was responsible for the production of the BMW 1- and 2-Series models, as well as the i3 electric hatchback.
