It’s secure to say this can be a pivotal week for the BMW Group’s company world. Milan Nedeljković will substitute Oliver Zipse as Chairman and CEO in Could 2026, and extra management modifications are underway. Alexander Karajlovic has been appointed Head of Improvement at BMW M, succeeding Dirk Häcker.
Karajlovic is not any stranger to the “world’s strongest letter.” He beforehand served as venture supervisor for the XM earlier than shifting as much as Vice President for the M lineup from early 2021 to mid-2023. After a interval in BMW’s broader growth staff, he’s now again at M.
Enterprise has been booming for BMW M. The sub-brand posted its thirteenth consecutive 12 months of progress in 2024 with 206,582 autos shipped. Prospects for 2025 are even stronger, as deliveries by way of September had been up 7.9% in comparison with the primary 9 months of 2024, reaching 158,182 items. It’s price noting that each figures embody M Efficiency fashions.
As for Dirk Häcker, he’s heading right into a well-deserved retirement. The veteran engineer has spent 37 years with the BMW Group, together with 11 years throughout the M division. He has led growth at M since 2015, serving to form the efficiency lineup throughout mainly all segments. Below his watch, the M5 Touring returned and sits alongside the first-ever M3 Touring.
Much more fascinating instances lie forward for BMW M. The division has been quietly creating its first electrical mannequin, with the M3 “ZA0” anticipated to debut in 2027 because the high-performance counterpart to subsequent 12 months’s i3 “NA0.” This electrical sports activities sedan will pave the best way for extra EVs from M, together with an X3 M.
Traditionalists needn’t fear, because the inline-six and V8 engines are sticking round for the long run. Each the S58 and S68 are set to obtain updates to satisfy Euro 7 requirements, safeguarding their future. The subsequent-generation M3 “G84” has already been confirmed to retain its six cylinders, so all is effectively. Moreover, the upcoming 3 Collection M Efficiency mannequin (M350) will proceed with the “B58.”
BMW M may even preserve at the very least one plug-in hybrid, with a facelifted M760e arriving subsequent 12 months. Now, how about that long-awaited supercar? Purists would argue they deserve a follow-up to the legendary M1 earlier than the M division calls time on combustion engines.
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