BMW’s 2025 AGM highlights NEUE KLASSE, EV growth, and global resilience

At BMW’s 2025 AGM, CEO Oliver Zipse detailed NEUE KLASSE plans, record EV gains, and global production strategy amid rising tariffs and shifting markets.

BMW reaffirmed its commitment to a flexible technological roadmap and steady electrification during its 105th Annual General Meeting, held on May 14, 2025, in Munich's Olympiahalle. Chairman of the Board Oliver Zipse delivered a comprehensive summary of the company’s 2024 performance and outlined strategic priorities moving forward.

The spotlight was firmly on the NEUE KLASSE platform, a cornerstone of BMW’s future product strategy. The first production model, the fully electric BMW iX3, will roll off the line this autumn at a newly built facility in Debrecen, Hungary. A sporty sedan will follow in 2026 at the company’s historic Munich plant, currently undergoing a major overhaul. Both cases signify more than just model launches — they represent a structural transformation of manufacturing and technology frameworks.

According to Zipse, the NEUE KLASSE will serve as the “technological heart” of BMW, merging architecture, software, artificial intelligence, and design. Among its innovations are human-machine interface features developed in China, thanks to BMW’s partnerships with Alibaba and DeepSeek.

Amid global market volatility and declining EV demand in certain regions, BMW remains resilient. In 2024, the company posted an EBT margin of 7.7% and delivered over 2.45 million vehicles. Fully electric models made up more than 17% of that volume, and BEV sales in Q1 2025 soared by 30% globally, with a remarkable 60% increase in Europe.

Zipse emphasized BMW’s ongoing commitment to technological openness. The company is advancing BEVs, PHEVs, and hydrogen powertrains in parallel — with a hydrogen-powered model slated for 2028. This multi-path approach reflects market realities and avoids reliance on a single solution.

As geopolitical tensions rise, BMW is accelerating its localization strategy. Production is nearly balanced: roughly one million units were built and sold in Europe, 700,000 in China, and around 400,000 in the US. This “local-for-local” model has become a clear competitive edge, particularly in tariff-sensitive environments.

BMW is also taking legal action against the EU, challenging anti-subsidy tariffs on EVs produced in China. The company advocates for open trade and has proposed a unified 2.5% tariff between the EU and the US, positioning itself as a global industry negotiator.

Looking ahead, BMW plans to launch over 40 new or updated vehicles by 2027. One highlight will be the 50th anniversary of the BMW 3 Series. Additional milestones include the expansion of Rolls-Royce production in Goodwood and the launch of new MINI models.

“At BMW, the glass is never half empty — it’s always at least half full,” Zipse concluded. That sentiment captures the brand’s enduring optimism: a forward-looking mindset built on confidence, adaptability, and the pursuit of opportunity over fear.