BMW AG marked its 105th Annual General Meeting with a sweeping strategic update, as Chairman Oliver Zipse underscored the company’s steadfast commitment to innovation, electrification, and global integration.
Addressing shareholders gathered in Munich’s Olympiahalle and online, Zipse outlined BMW’s long-term vision centered on the forthcoming NEUE KLASSE vehicle platform, robust growth targets, and a record-breaking dividend proposal of €2.6 billion—amounting to 36.7 percent of unappropriated profit, the highest payout ratio in BMW’s history.
BMW’s performance in 2024 showcased resilience amid global uncertainty. More than 2.45 million vehicles were delivered, with over 17 percent of sales coming from fully electric vehicles.
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This surge was especially pronounced in Europe and the U.S., with BEV sales climbing more than 60 percent and 20 percent respectively in Q1 2025. BMW now offers more than 15 all-electric models and achieved a CO₂ fleet average of just 99.5 g/km in Europe—outperforming targets by over 30 grams.
The company’s technological cornerstone, the NEUE KLASSE, is set to transform BMW’s lineup and operations. It merges modular tech clusters across all drive trains and introduces innovations like the BMW Panoramic iDrive and the powerful “Heart of Joy” control unit.
First glimpses of two camouflaged production models—an electric BMW 3 Series sedan and an iX3 SUV—were revealed at the AGM. The iX3 will debut this autumn at BMW’s new plant in Debrecen, Hungary, with a global rollout to follow.
Amid shifting geopolitical dynamics and rising trade barriers, BMW is doubling down on its local-for-local strategy. Balanced production and sales across Europe, China, and the U.S.—with each region accounting for around one million, 700,000, and 400,000 vehicles respectively—underpin this strategy.
BMW is also pursuing regional high-voltage battery facilities and deepening AI collaborations, including with Alibaba and DeepSeek in China.
The U.S. remains a key pillar. Celebrating 50 years in the region, BMW highlighted its Spartanburg plant as America’s largest automotive exporter by value, supporting 43,000 jobs and generating over $10 billion in exports in 2024 alone. The plant’s first electric model is scheduled for 2026, backed by a $1.7 billion investment.
Despite supply chain disruptions and a weaker Chinese market, BMW adjusted its 2024 guidance and delivered a 7.7 percent EBT margin. It now forecasts a 2025 EBIT margin between five and seven percent in its automotive segment, factoring in known tariff effects. Still, the company aims for a long-term margin of 8–10 percent and expects moderate sales growth this year, supported by over 40 new or updated models by 2027.
BMW’s assertive approach to regulation and trade policy includes legal action against EU tariffs on BEVs from China and a proposal for uniform transatlantic auto tariffs. The firm maintains that open markets are essential to global success.
As BMW approaches its 110th anniversary, the message to shareholders was clear: the company’s future is electric, intelligent, and global—anchored by a legacy of adaptability and forward-thinking leadership.
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