BMW

BMW omits a diesel engine from the new 3 Series, a clear sign of the shrinking diesel offering. Manufacturers such as VW are cutting diesel models nationally and across Europe; new registrations in Germany have fallen below ten percent for the first time, and diesel’s share in Europe has dropped to about seven percent. High costs for exhaust treatment, tighter regulations, rising diesel prices and weakening demand are depressing residual values and accelerating the withdrawal. The trend is turning diesel increasingly into a niche technology, while buyers are shifting to hybrid and electric cars. » More on wiwo.de

Due to short-term bottlenecks in external parts supply, BMW is currently cancelling individual shifts at the Regensburg, Leipzig and Oxford plants. The group did not name the missing parts or the causes, but emphasized close contact with its supplier network and measures taken to stabilise the supply. Individual cancelled shifts can affect hundreds of vehicles; based on experience, such disruptions can often be made up. » More on spiegel.de

BMW will, from the end of the decade, increasingly source sixth-generation battery cells from Samsung's and LG's factories in Europe and the USA. The aim is to shorten transport routes, increase supply security and reduce dependence on Chinese cells. Procurement diversification is part of the purchasing strategy, alongside existing suppliers such as Catl and Eve Energy. » More on manager-magazin.de

BMW is speeding up the model turnover for its electric cars and is removing older electric models from its lineup more quickly. This strategy weighs on short-term profits but is part of a larger bet on the next e-generation. The company is banking on long-term growth in the electric segment despite temporary hits to results. » More on welt.de

BMW reported another profit decline in the third quarter, lowered its annual forecast and now expects an automotive EBIT margin of only -0.5 to 0.5 percent. CEO Milan Nedeljković announced a structural transformation, including a voluntary severance program, short-term burdens from cost-saving measures and write-downs of older electric models, and a focus on the Neue Klasse with Gen6 batteries. In China, BMW is placing greater emphasis on localization and expanding its plant network in Shenyang; sales declines in China and production slowdowns in Leipzig and Regensburg due to supplier problems further weigh on results. » More on faz.net