The maker of BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce models is seeking to add expertise in electric vehicles, hybrid powertrains, and cleaner internal combustion engines, aiming to lower carbon dioxide emissions in its future models.
The Bavarian company underwent personnel downsizing through buyouts and early retirement programs to 96,230 employees at the end of 2009 from 107,539 in 2007, as a result of the cost-cutting strategy initiated by Chief Executive Officer Norbert Reithofer in an effort to boost profitability. BMW has employed about 1,000 new workers on average in 2008 and 2009, according to Rebstock.
The company is adding workforce to aid the development of the Megacity electric city car and the hybrid powered sports car, the BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics, both of which are scheduled for introduction in 2013. The two vehicles will most likely be produced at the Leipzig Plant in Eastern Germany.
The automaker is also recruiting purchasing and sales specialists, as it aims to increase its sales this year by 10 percent to more than 1.4 million sales, and has set a long-term target of 2 million vehicles by 2020.
Other German automakers are also hiring, with abουt 50,000 jobs to be added globally by Volkswagen AG in the next 5 years. VW is planning tο haνe 10 percent οf the new positions in Germany, VW's second-biggest market after China, according to Personnel Chief, Horst Neumann.
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