BMW: Workforce numbers and vehicles sold in 2008

One of the most common questions or emails that we receive here are in regards to BMW sales numbers, worldwide and not only. BMW personnel is another topic that comes into our mind these days when majority of the companies go through round and rounds of workforce reductions.

Looking at the BMW Annual Press Conference statement released today, I figured I would extract those information and post them here, rather than have you read 10+ pages till you get to the “cool” things.

The number of employees was reduced over the past year as a result of the previously reported personnel-related measures, the sale of business units, normal staff attrition and the expiry of temporary contracts. At the end of 2008, the worldwide workforce comprised 100,041 employees (31 December 2007: 107,539 employees), 7.0% fewer than one year earlier.

Approximately 4,000 voluntary employment contract termination agreements had been signed by the end of December. In addition, almost 1,800 posts were reduced following the sale of the Cirquent Group to NTT Data. The number of trainees at the year-end (4,102) remained at a high level (31 December 2007: 4,281).

The BMW Group – an Overview