Ho-sung Song's first task will be leading a business strategy that targets a shift from internal combustion technology toward electric and autonomous vehicles through a $25 billion investment blitz.

Frank Weber, who oversaw development of the Chevrolet Volt and Opel Ampera, will be responsible for R&D at BMW. He replaces Klaus Froelich, who is retiring.

The move comes as the brand ramps up production ahead of the start of deliveries of its Polestar 2 full-electric car later this year in China, where its main rivals include Tesla, Nio and BMW.

Inoue Katsushi, who led Honda's European business for the last four years, moves to China where the automaker was one of the few global brands to buck the market's downturn last year.