BMW to cut 8,000 jobs in voluntary buyout program

BMW has announced a plan to cut 8,000 jobs globally, primarily in Germany, through voluntary buyouts and natural attrition, becoming the latest German automaker to downsize amid a deepening industry crisis. The program will run from October 2026 to the end of 2027 and is expected to save the company 1 billion euros annually from 2028 Source: abces; infobae.

The plan

The cuts target non-production staff in administration, research, and development, sparing assembly-line workers Source: abces. About half of BMW's 154,000 employees are in Germany, where the majority of reductions will occur Source: euronewses. The company has set aside 1 billion euros for buyouts, though some reports describe the cost as "several hundred million euros," reflecting uncertainty pending uptake Source: abces; euronewses. CEO Milan Nedeljkovic negotiated the package with the works council over six weeks Source: euronewses.

Broader context

BMW joins a wave of cuts across German auto: Volkswagen may shed up to 100,000 jobs, Porsche has announced additional 5,000 cuts, and Mercedes-Benz is also reducing headcount Source: euronewses; abces. The industry faces weak demand in China, rising competition from Chinese EV makers, US tariffs, and global economic uncertainty Source: infobae; euronewses.

Discrepancies

While most sources agree on the 8,000 figure, one report suggests the cuts are exclusively in Germany Source: abces, while others describe them as global Source: infobae; euronewses. Additionally, the buyout cost is cited as 1 billion euros by some Source: abces and as "several hundred million" by others Source: euronewses.