According to the carmaker’s chief executive, BMW plans to add up to 6,000 new jobs next year to meet increased demand for its electric vehicles.
In an interview published on Wednesday, Oliver Zipse said that BMW is on the right track with its transition and that its plants are ready for e-mobility. “That is why we will increase our workforce by up to five percent next year.”
BMW has sold over one million electric vehicles (EVs) to date, including pure electric and hybrid models, and expects to sell two million pure electric vehicles by 2025.
According to the CEO, the semiconductor shortage should be over in a year due to continued investments by semiconductor makers. “I expect that by the end of next year, we will see a largely normal situation.”
EV demand, according to Zipse, is exceptionally high. “Our i4 is sold out for months, as is the iX.” The i4 is an electric car, whereas the iX is a luxury mid-size crossover SUV. BMW aims to release an electrified version of its 7 series luxury vehicle next year. “It won’t be any different there,” Zipse said.
By 2030, the automaker wants at least 50% of global sales to be electric. Still, it has been warned that a lack of charging infrastructure is a significant roadblock to faster customer adoption of electric vehicles.
