BMW 'plans to slash 8,000 jobs' in massive cost-cutting operation

BMW is set to axe thousands of jobs worldwide in a massive cost-cutting effort following negotiations with employee representatives.

A company spokesperson confirmed that jobs would be lost by the end of 2027 through a voluntary redundancy programme.

In a comment to Reuters, a spokesperson said the company and works council had agreed on a severance programme aimed at administration and development positions.

Production operations are excluded, with a person familiar with the matter stating that the workforce is expected to be cut by around 8,000.

TRENDING

Stories

Videos

Your Say

German outlet Süddeutsche Zeitung stated that one in 11 jobs in Germany could be lost in a bid to cut costs.

BMW CEO Milan Nedeljković and the works council chairman, Martin Kimmich, are expected to present an agreement at a meeting later today.

The German newspaper suggested that many of the job losses could be seen at the brand's Munich headquarters.

It claimed that 40,000 employees around Germany are to be contacted and presented with a severance offer, which would be just under half of the brand's total workforce in Germany.

The programme is expected to begin in October and run through 2027 as BMW looks to complete its restructuring programme.

BMW will release its half-year report tomorrow, which will include speeches and sales data from the first six months of 2026.

CEO Milan Nedeljković took over the premium automaker in May and has warned of difficulties in the motoring sector.

Many legacy European manufacturers have faced difficulties in recent years amid the transition to electric vehicles and strong competition from China.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• HMRC 'punishing' diesel drivers with massive car tax charges, experts warn
• VW, Ford, BMW and other brands eligible for discounts up to £3,750 through Electric Car Grant
• Porsche confirms plans to axe 5,000 jobs after 'hard-fought' negotiations with staff

In the first quarter of the year, BMW Group sold 565,780 vehicles around the world, a 3.5 per cent drop compared to the same time in 2025.

The overwhelming majority of these came from BMW, while Mini was the only BMW Group manufacturer to post a year-on-year increase in sales.

Mr Nedeljković, who started at BMW as a trainee at the brand's Munich plant in 1993, stated that the manufacturer was "on the right track" in June.

BMW has posted impressive sales in the UK with 62,877 newly registered vehicles in 2026 so far, capturing more than 5.5 per cent of the total market share.

However, this is a 4.29 per cent drop compared to the same time last year, when it registered almost 66,000 vehicles.

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter