Diversity strengthens our company. The diverse input of our colleagues from over 110 countries makes us who we are: A Bavarian automotive brand that is at home in the world. Diversity – in all its forms – is one of the most important success factors for us. Because just as diverse our customers, suppliers, investors and partners worldwide are, so diverse are our teams, who manage to put a smile on the faces of our customers every day.
JOY THROUGH DIVERSITY.
OUR BMW GROUP COMMITMENT.
Passion knows no differences.
This is why we encourage diversity in all our teams. Because if you want to set standards in shaping the sustainable and individual mobility of the future, you also have to go ahead with the corporate culture. This diversity in our teams enables us to better understand, reflect and make more intelligent decisions about the various requirements of our stakeholders from all over the world. Our diversity is the cornerstone of our company's success and not only secures our innovative strength, but also our long-term competitiveness.
Our commitment to more diversity.
To us, equal opportunities and inclusion are a lived reality, not an empty promise – every day and everywhere. Because the different and complementary perspectives and abilities of everyone increase our innovative power and make us strong for any challenge.
GENDER.
We focus strongly on promoting gender parity. Through a variety of activities and measures, we are working towards a balanced gender ratio across all levels of the hierarchy.
In this way, we ensure that our talents can develop even better at all levels. We offer a broad basis for equal opportunities, for example through Parental Coaching, Joint Leadership, Equal Pay and many other measures. Furthermore, we create the best conditions for networking and exchange with our internal women's networks and other internal collaborations.
In 2024, we were indexed with the seal of the Women's Career Index (FKi). This recognized our successful activities in establishing more women in leadership positions and achieving overall higher diversity in the organization.
We also work closely with external partners to further strengthen our commitment to gender diversity, including the "Alliance for Women in STEM Professions" (Bündnis für Frauen in MINT-Berufen), PANDA – the Women Leadership Network and the "Alliance Together Against Sexism" (Bündnis Gemeinsam gegen Sexismus).
AGE & EXPERIENCE.
Due to an earlier entry into the company and a later exit, for example due to the increasing retirement age, the working life of our colleagues is growing.
Currently, four generations are working successfully together with us. We promote intergenerational cooperation - with the aim of creating a productive exchange between the generations and supporting our talents in such a way that they can optimally utilize their individual potential. Furthermore, our offerings in the field of occupational health management as well as our flexible working time models enable our colleagues to plan their life phases individually.
PHYSICAL & MENTAL ABILITIES.
It is part of our self-image to provide an inclusive and barrier-free work environment for colleagues with physical or mental disabilities. We ensure that all our talents, with or without disabilities, feel equally comfortable and can shape creative processes from different perspectives. Because we know that these different viewpoints play an enormous part in enabling us all to achieve great things together day after day. We use, among other things, the possibilities of digitalization and Industry 4.0 to make work easier and better, especially for our colleagues with disabilities.
Outside our company, we also engage through cooperations with workshops for people with disabilities (WfbM) and, as a member of the Valuable 500, set a sign for inclusion and diversity.
CULTURAL BACKGROUND.
We are proud to have colleagues from over 110 different nations in our teams and actively promote the exchange between the different cultures through training and other measures. The cultural diversity of our employees helps us on the one hand to understand the specific needs of our customers in a wide variety of markets and to align our products accordingly. On the other hand, it helps us to respond quickly and flexibly to changing requirements.
SEXUAL ORIENTATION & IDENTITY.
For us, diversity means living a culture that is based on appreciation and respect, so that people of all origins can contribute and develop with their personality and identity.
BMW Group PRIDE stands for exactly that. The network acts as the mouthpiece of the LGBTIQ+ community (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer) where diversity, equality, trust, respect and inclusion come first. Together, we ensure a positive, tolerant and open work environment in which everyone is welcome regardless of their sexual identity.
We also send a clear signal to the outside world: in 2021, for instance, we joined the PROUT EMPLOYER network of the Prout at Work Foundation and signed the "UN Standards of Conduct for Business for Tackling Discrimination against LGBTI people". We also commit ourself as partner of the "Together Against Sexism Alliance" (Bündnis Gemeinsam gegen Sexismus).
DIVERSITY CHARTER.
Since 2011, we have also been involved with the Diversity Charter, a corporate initiative that promotes the recognition, appreciation and inclusion of diversity in the corporate culture in Germany. By signing the Charta, we have officially taken on the commitment to create a work environment that is free of prejudice. As a supporting member of the Charta, we accompany numerous activities around the German Diversity Day every year.
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MULTIFACETED INSIGHTS.
The promotion of tolerance, inclusion, equal opportunities, and active action against any form of discrimination are crucial for us in the further development of our culture and our mindset. We hold numerous Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Days (DEI Days) annually, where important topics are addressed and explored in depth together with our talents on selected international action days.
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SIGN LANGUAGE.
It is about what we say, not how. In order to create ideal working conditions, we ensure that all colleagues feel comfortable and are able to be part of creative processes – also the ones that can't speak or hear.
INTERNATIONAL TOLERANCE DAY.
Passion knows no difference. Diversity is an indispensable element for the future of the BMW Group. Diversity and individuality make us strong and innovative in order to lead the way to a better and sustainable tomorrow.
WORLD AIDS DAY.
At the BMW Group, we are all united by one passion. There is no room for discrimination. Just as there is no room for HIV stigma. We show our support for people living with HIV, their families and their rights.
COMING OUT DAY.
Passion knows no right or wrong. We welcome and appreciate you no matter which gender you belong to or whom you are in love with. That is why we give our colleagues the same chances and support them with individual solutions.
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF OLDER PERSONS.
As a company with over 150,000 employees around the world we also benefit from the experience and knowledge of our elderly colleagues who have often worked within the BMW Group for many years.
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FRIENDSHIP.
It’s all about friendship: Appreciation, openness, trust, transparency, responsibility… Values that are also essential for us at the BMW Group. Living those values day by day, many colleagues also become friends over time.
INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY.
Women from around the globe with their diverse talents and competencies, with their personality and passion bring our company a step forward every day.
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN SCIENCE.
At the BMW Group there are many women across all divisions working in science and technology – and even though there could still be more, we are proud to have so many female colleagues in these areas on our teams.
TALKING ABOUT DIVERSITY.
Diversity is a multifaceted term – especially when we talk about its dimensions and implementation in the company. Colleagues from different areas of the BMW Group answer the question of what exactly defines diversity and what it looks like in everyday life.
"Diversity is the foundation of our success. A working environment free of prejudice, combined with respectful coexistence, are important requirements for this."
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ILKA HORSTMEIER.
Member of the Board of Management, People and Real Estate, Labour Relations Director.
"We benefit from the diversity of our employees and their different perspectives. After all, our customers also differ in terms of their nationality, age and gender."
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DR. STEFAN KASPEROWSKI.
Head of Production High-Voltage Storage Generation 5 Dingolfing, Regensburg.
"Diversity in my team offers us the great advantage that we can bring together the different experiences of the individual employees. Open communication and appreciation – both part of our corporate culture – are very important to me and I'm committed to living by them."
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TINA SCHMIDT-KIENDL.
Head of Project Management Product Line BMW M.
"My team stands for diversity, culture, a friendly atmosphere and flexible working hours. The diversity in my team helps us to understand, reflect and make more intelligent decisions."
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NISHA PARRAKAT.
Software Specialist Base System.
"We ensure that all employees work in an environment that is characterised by 100% tolerance and thus makes 100% performance possible. This is a personal concern for me. Therefore: Zero tolerance for intolerance and discrimination!”
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FRANK WEBER.
Member of the Board of Management, Development.
"Our PRIDE network is already active at many locations of the BMW Group worldwide. We want the company and team to keep an open mind, and we need strong role models up and down the hierarchy who lead by example and practise tolerance and diversity."
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CLAUDIA AND CHRISTIAN.
Representatives of our internal PRIDE network.
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