{"id":85526,"date":"2026-05-13T10:30:56","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T14:30:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=85526"},"modified":"2026-05-13T10:30:56","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T14:30:56","slug":"milan-nedeljkovic-succeeds-oliver-zipse-bmw-ceo-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=85526","title":{"rendered":"Milan Nedeljkovi\u0107 Succeeds Oliver Zipse As BMW CEO Today"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"post-summary-wrap\">\n<h3 class=\"post-summary-title\">Article Summary<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"post-summary-list\">\n<li>Oliver Zipse steps down after nearly seven years as CEO and a total of 35 years with BMW.<\/li>\n<li>Milan Nedeljkovi\u0107 joined the BMW Group as a trainee in 1993, and has been at the company ever since.<\/li>\n<li>BMW will launch around 40 new or facelifted models by the end of 2027, with even more coming before the end of the decade.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<p>Today marks the end of an era at the BMW Group. Oliver Zipse is stepping down to make way for Milan Nedeljkovi\u0107 as Chairman of the Board of Management. Zipse ends a remarkable 35-year career at the German automotive conglomerate, with the last seven spent at the helm of the company.<\/p>\n<p>During his long stint as BMW CEO, Zipse masterfully steered the Bavarian ship, refusing to put all the company\u2019s eggs in the electric basket. Instead, the German luxury automaker advocated giving customers the freedom to choose between gasoline, diesel, plug-in hybrid, and electric models. It\u2019s a strategy that has paid off, with sales reflecting the company\u2019s leading position in the luxury segment.<\/p>\n<p>Zipse led BMW through the company\u2019s largest single investment in history. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bmwblog.com\/2025\/09\/06\/bmw-spent-over-10-billion-euros-neue-klasse\/\">More than \u20ac10 billion<\/a> has been spent on Neue Klasse, which extends far beyond electric vehicles. The new in-car tech pioneered by the iX3 and i3 has already been applied to the 7 Series facelift. Additional conventionally powered models are about to receive iDrive X, Panoramic Vision, and the latest software and hardware developments.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_508513\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-508513\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/BMW-CEO-Oliver-Zipse-1.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-508513 size-medium\" title=\"MILAN NEDELJKOVI\u0107 AND THE 2026 BMW IX3 1\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/BMW-CEO-Oliver-Zipse-1-830x553.jpg\" alt=\"BMW CEO OLIVER ZIPSE 1\" width=\"830\" height=\"553\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/BMW-CEO-Oliver-Zipse-1-830x553.jpg 830w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/BMW-CEO-Oliver-Zipse-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/BMW-CEO-Oliver-Zipse-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/BMW-CEO-Oliver-Zipse-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/BMW-CEO-Oliver-Zipse-1-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 830px) 100vw, 830px\"\/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-508513\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Former BMW CEO Oliver Zipse<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Big Investments, Even Greater Expectations<\/h2>\n<p>Still, developing new batteries and motors accounted for the lion\u2019s share of the investment. Retooling factories for the next-generation EVs didn\u2019t come cheap either. Building five battery assembly plants across three continents also required a major financial effort. It underscores the complexity of managing everything while ensuring the production of current combustion-engine and electric vehicles continues smoothly.<\/p>\n<p>That said, it doesn\u2019t mean Milan Nedeljkovi\u0107 will have an easy job. BMW\u2019s sales in China are on a slippery slope. Annual deliveries in the Group\u2019s largest market have fallen by about 200,000 vehicles over the last couple of years. In 2025, the core brand and MINI sold a combined 626,000 units.<\/p>\n<p>It remains to be seen whether new models like the long-wheelbase iX3 and i3 will reverse the trend. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bmwblog.com\/2026\/05\/10\/new-long-wheelbase-bmw-x5-china-2027\/\">next-generation X5 with a stretched wheelbase<\/a> is also planned for the world\u2019s largest car market. Additional China-specific models are planned, including a new long-wheelbase 3 Series with combustion engines.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_509050\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-509050\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Milan-Nedeljkovic-and-the-2026-BMW-iX3-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-509050 size-medium\" title=\"MILAN NEDELJKOVI\u0107 AND THE 2026 BMW IX3 1\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Milan-Nedeljkovic-and-the-2026-BMW-iX3-1-830x553.jpg\" alt=\"MILAN NEDELJKOVI\u0107 AND THE 2026 BMW IX3 1\" width=\"830\" height=\"553\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Milan-Nedeljkovic-and-the-2026-BMW-iX3-1-830x553.jpg 830w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Milan-Nedeljkovic-and-the-2026-BMW-iX3-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Milan-Nedeljkovic-and-the-2026-BMW-iX3-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Milan-Nedeljkovic-and-the-2026-BMW-iX3-1-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Milan-Nedeljkovic-and-the-2026-BMW-iX3-1-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 830px) 100vw, 830px\"\/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-509050\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">New BMW CEO Milan Nedeljkovi\u0107<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Who Is Milan Nedeljkovi\u0107?<\/h2>\n<p>Born in Krusevac, Serbia, in March 1969, Milan Nedeljkovi\u0107 studied Mechanical Engineering at RWTH Aachen University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology before joining the BMW Group as a trainee in 1993. He held multiple management positions from 1999 until 2006, when he was appointed Head of Paint Shop at MINI\u2019s Oxford factory.<\/p>\n<p>From 2010 to 2013, he served as Head of Assembly at BMW\u2019s Leipzig plant, which he subsequently led as Managing Director until 2015. He then relocated to the Munich factory, where he held the same top position until 2018. Later that year, he was appointed Senior Vice President Corporate Quality and became a Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG Production in October 2019.<\/p>\n<p>As of May 14, Milan Nedeljkovi\u0107 becomes Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW, with a contract running through 2031. By the end of his tenure, the company\u2019s lineup will have undergone major changes. Nearly all existing models are expected to be replaced by then, either through a Life Cycle Impulse or a next-generation model.<\/p>\n<h2>New BMW Models Are In, Others Are Out<\/h2>\n<p>Some are unlikely to survive into the next decade, including the 2 Series Active Tourer, i4, iX, and XM. These will join the Z4 and 8 Series, which BMW has already bid farewell to. Although not officially confirmed yet, other models are likely to join the lineup. We\u2019re talking about an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bmwblog.com\/2025\/04\/26\/bmw-i1-electric-hatchback-2028-rear-wheel-drive\/\">i1 hatchback<\/a>, an i2 sedan, an iX4, and possibly a rugged three-row SUV.<\/p>\n<p>The leadership change comes as BMW begins a complete overhaul of its massive portfolio following an unprecedentedly large investment. With a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bmwblog.com\/2024\/09\/14\/first-bmw-models-new-design-team-2029\/\">new design team<\/a> already working on models launching from 2030 onward, there are truly exciting yet challenging times ahead.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Article Summary Oliver Zipse steps down after nearly seven years as CEO and a total of 35 years with BMW. Milan Nedeljkovi\u0107 joined the BMW Group as a trainee in 1993, and has been at the company ever since. BMW will launch around 40 new or facelifted models by the end of 2027, with even [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":85527,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-85526","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85526","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=85526"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85526\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/85527"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=85526"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=85526"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=85526"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}