BMW to cut 8,000 jobs globally by 2027, mostly in German offices

BMW has announced plans to eliminate approximately 8,000 positions worldwide by the end of 2027, representing about 5% of its roughly 154,000-strong global workforce. The cuts are primarily targeted at white-collar roles in Germany, with production staff explicitly excluded. Instead of mass layoffs, BMW will rely on voluntary redundancies, natural attrition, and non-renewal of temporary contracts to meet the target. More than half of the reductions—around 4,000 roles—are expected in Germany, where BMW employs over 80,000 people. The program will run from October 2026 through December 2027, focusing on administrative, research and development, planning, and other corporate functions across major sites such as Munich, Regensburg, Dingolfing, and Leipzig. The move follows a profit decline of more than a third, attributed to a sharp slump in China sales and intensifying competition from Chinese EV manufacturers. BMW frames the job cuts as a strategic response to structural cost pressures and shrinking margins in the electric vehicle segment, aiming to streamline operations without disrupting factory output. The company has secured agreement from its works council for the voluntary redundancy program, which includes lump-sum severance packages and incentives for eligible staff. BMW’s approach contrasts with other German automakers, including Volkswagen, which has signaled potential cuts of up to 100,000 positions amid similar pressures, and Porsche, which is reportedly planning around 5,000 additional layoffs. Ford’s European operations have also implemented job reductions tied to weaker-than-expected EV demand.