[ORIGIN M.]

Originally Posted by F30_M_Sport_Eurovan

Sorry... it is in my nature. Please know that maybe only has one "e" -- at first I thought it was a typo but then it occurred again.

As far as this person moving forward, good for him. We need to switch up the talent pool to get new ideas and more competitive products. I could actually see myself in a sporty Hyundai one of these days. It might provide a more reliable ride -- although I've had little to fault my F30 328i M Sport. I do, indeed, love my car.

Who cares how people might spell. It's not like he is being graded here. So please if possible stop yourself from annoy others just the same.

[MalibuBimmer]

Originally Posted by red-sauerkraut

Who cares how people might spell. It's not like he is being graded here. So please if possible stop yourself from annoying others just the same.

Exactly.

[Chihuahua]

Originally Posted by EnI

It's more than obvious M is going hybrid (or even fully electric?) in the future.

Agree, and it's overdue. BMW made such a big deal about the E60 M5 being 'inspired by F1' with its V10. The F10 should have had KERS boosted naturally-aspirated V8, 'inspired by our F1 car'.

[FogCityM3]

Unless BMW is different from nearly every corporation in the world, mandatory retirement ages are only for executive officers and/or board/managing members of the public holding company (in this case at BMW AG). Unless Biermann had aspirations to become an executive officer, I don't think he would be precluded from working past 60 as a VP/head of an operational division (as opposed to a corporate executive officer), unless BMW has very different bylaws from in place from nearly every other public corporation. In the US many companies have mandatory retirement ages (usually 65), but only involve the executive leadership and/or board members (usually include only the former in the US).


Edit: I may be mistaken. Several articles mention that "senior managers" are required to retire at 60…so this could have been the case with Biermann, but such a rule at the non-corporate officer level is pretty much unheard of in the US. Can anyone confirm this? If so, this could be a really sore spot for a company. Not only is 60 far too young (most in the US are at 65), but you may be excluding some really talented people in the middle-to-upper rungs, who realistically are doing all the work below the corporate officers.

Originally Posted by EnI

The reason many BMW top managers are leaving now is the so called "Rule 60" which is strictly followed within BMW AG.

It's an internal BMW AG corporate rule saying BMW top executive officials (heads, chiefs, presidents, vice-presidents etc) can only be in the top position until they turn 60 - then they are obliged to step down (and either retire, leave for a job @ another company, or take a non-executive job within BMW - which is actually a downgrade for a person's career).

Therefore many active top BMW managers (who want to continue their respected managerial careers) prepare to leave the company when they are close to 60, and continue their careers @ other companies ... even beyond 60. And if / when they got an attractive offer, they definitely take it.

Current BMW Group CEO Reithofer is 58, M GmbH CEO Nitschke is 59, BMW Group Head of R&B Diess is 57, and Biermann is 56.

Meaning they are all under "Rule 60" impact in the following few years. Therefore it's time for a new generation of managers. BMW AG new CEO Krüger (ex-chief of production BMW Group) is 49, new M GmbH director van Meel (ex-managing director of Audi Quattro GmbH division) is 48 etc. I'm sure M GmbH Head of development will also be someone younger.

And so Diess went to VAG to manage VW Passenger Cars Division, Biermann went to Hyundai, Nitschke is retiring, Reithofer will be offer a position of BMW Group supervisory board chairman (which is a top non-executive position within BMW Group - current held by ex-CEO Milberg who is 71).

Fröhlich, who replaced Diess as BMW Group Chief of R&D is also turning 55 soon, so he's also close to 60. I would not be surprised he also leaves soon and is replaced with someone younger.

There's no other reason behind ... No conspiracy theory. No Armageddon approaching. It's a natural change of generations @ top positions in the company. BMW AG does it every decade, actually. In 2006 Reithofer replaced Panke who was 60 then. And in in May 2015 Krüger will replace Reithofer who will turn 59 then.

[snaimpally]

Hyundai has been quite aggressive in hiring top talent. Look at their designs - they have some nice looking cars. Hyundai has made no secret that they intend to go after the BMW/Audi/MB market so it only makes sense that they would aggressively hire such talent. Looking forward to see what comes out of Hyundai. I don't think it will take a few years either - the Genesis coupe and Sonata are good platforms on which to build.

In regard to those commenting that BMW let him go because the M3/M4 are turbo rather than NA, the new M3/M4 make more torque and have been very well received. Plus, BMW is looking to go more hybrid, based on their hires, so shouldn't be too long before M3/M4 are hybrids.

[antzcrashing]

If i were to guess i would say bmw management and marketing are taking over the freedom and flexibility that bmw engineers once had. And greener pastures are at hyundai which is less developed with less beaurocracy and has more growth potential. The BMW glory days might be ending

[IB M]

Hun Day not Die

[b0bab0i]

Originally Posted by checkmate

///M is dead. This is real sad news!

///Motorsport has been dead. Ever since they added X5/X6 M's, M550D & M235i's. M's just been changed to ///Marketing.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by EnI

The reason many BMW top managers are leaving now is the so called "Rule 60" which is strictly followed within BMW AG.

It's an internal BMW AG corporate rule saying BMW top executive officials (heads, chiefs, presidents, vice-presidents etc) can only be in the top position until they turn 60 - then they are obliged to step down (and either retire, leave for a job @ another company, or take a non-executive job within BMW - which is actually a downgrade for a person's career).

Therefore many active top BMW managers (who want to continue their respected managerial careers) prepare to leave the company when they are close to 60, and continue their careers @ other companies ... even beyond 60. And if / when they got an attractive offer, they definitely take it.

Current BMW Group CEO Reithofer is 58, M GmbH CEO Nitschke is 59, BMW Group Head of R&B Diess is 57, and Biermann is 56.

Meaning they are all under "Rule 60" impact in the following few years. Therefore it's time for a new generation of managers. BMW AG new CEO Krüger (ex-chief of production BMW Group) is 49, new M GmbH director van Meel (ex-managing director of Audi Quattro GmbH division) is 48 etc. I'm sure M GmbH Head of development will also be someone younger.

And so Diess went to VAG to manage VW Passenger Cars Division, Biermann went to Hyundai, Nitschke is retiring, Reithofer will be offer a position of BMW Group supervisory board chairman (which is a top non-executive position within BMW Group - current held by ex-CEO Milberg who is 71).

Fröhlich, who replaced Diess as BMW Group Chief of R&D is also turning 55 soon, so he's also close to 60. I would not be surprised he also leaves soon and is replaced with someone younger.

There's no other reason behind ... No conspiracy theory. No Armageddon approaching. It's a natural change of generations @ top positions in the company. BMW AG does it every decade, actually. In 2006 Reithofer replaced Panke who was 60 then. And in in May 2015 Krüger will replace Reithofer who will turn 59 then.

#1

[ChrisMT79]

Originally Posted by Law

Very nice!
Now nobody is left to stop the development of the much anticipated M945d M Performance M Sport xDrive Gran Active Tourer Coupe Gran Turismo

well played, and thank you. Your humor was much needed, and well received/ in line with my thought yesterday while here in Taiwan.

[4er_Meister]

Hyundai is gonna have " ///N " division now

[farishat]

What color is that X5 behind him? Not smurf blue I think, looks good

[ORIGIN M.]

too funny!

Originally Posted by MalibuBimmer

Exactly.

[111R]

Didn't the head of Audi styling defect to Kia a few years back?

http://www.kia.com/worldwide/about-k...w.aspx?idx=304

[bradleyland]

Originally Posted by 123sub

Thanks. I guess it is the same with Audi RS4/5 and the VAG Company then. And we have the Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang and Hyundai Genesis. All available with NA.

Audi is part of VAG, which sells a HUGE number of economy cars. Golf, Polo, Jetta? Ever heard of them? GM, Ford, and Chrysler all have huge fleets of cars in which they can bury their fuel economy woes. Same with Hyundai, who primarily sells econoboxes and family sedans.

If you can't look at the line-ups at each of these manufacturers and spot the difference between what they're offering and what BMW is offering, then maybe you should make one of them your next car choice.

BMW offers a RWD car in every single segment of their line-up, yet even that is changing. BMW has to do something or they won't be able to remain independent.

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

How long until an M badge on a Hyundai is justified?

[DCG]

Originally Posted by kwike92

Although this guy left and I'm sure he has the brains of a genius...

M can't even get the M4's Carbon Fiber Roof Brackets Mounts installed. No disrespect to him but come on M Division.

[N & M]

With all the musical chairs in the industry and BMW's own internal reorganisation, this one was bound to happen, but to a Korean car company was a surprise.

I am sure the guy was not staying long after seeing the top jobs at BMW be snatched up by an Audi guy in his division, a Ferrari guy for i and a younger engineer for CEO.

His move was part frustration and part tactical in my opinion.

[jayyp]

Why would he go to Hyundai...? He's been at BMW ever since the first M was introduced! :/

[123sub]

Originally Posted by bradleyland

Audi is part of VAG, which sells a HUGE number of economy cars. Golf, Polo, Jetta? Ever heard of them? GM, Ford, and Chrysler all have huge fleets of cars in which they can bury their fuel economy woes. Same with Hyundai, who primarily sells econoboxes and family sedans.

If you can't look at the line-ups at each of these manufacturers and spot the difference between what they're offering and what BMW is offering, then maybe you should make one of them your next car choice.

BMW offers a RWD car in every single segment of their line-up, yet even that is changing. BMW has to do something or they won't be able to remain independent.

Yes, i can see the difference after the explanation, and thats way i said thanks. The Hyundai Genesis is not imported to europe, and i prefer my E46M3 over that one. Camaro&Mustang is imported to europe, and i like the Mustang, but i like the Challenger better, but that one is not imported. So, what i am going to do is to buy a 2012/13 E92 and keep it for the rest of my time.

[Mavus]

good read

http://blog.caranddriver.com/hyundai...hief-engineer/


Biermann knows the soul of BMW. The "rule 60" does not apply in this case. Every company has bylaws that can grant exceptions if critical talent and skill must be preserved. This applies to CEOs as well. Clearly he did not see the top exec shuffle as a positive sign based on this article. Sad news for BMW. Hyundai has no idea what they just got.

[IS3andME]

Originally Posted by DinanEX

Just spec'ed out my first Hyundai....I got their Genesis 5.0L (which basically has all the same tech (HUD, electronic dampeners, and a 8 speed ZF gearbox) as my 435i, but mmmmm V8) and it was cheaper than my 435i by about 5 g's....on top of that Hyundai will be bring Apple Carplay....this is going to get interesting...I may have to test drive it. Anyone driven Hyundai's electo-hydraulic steering?

Here is the thing, the Gen 5.0 isn't a competitor to the 435i, so why even mention it with the 435i, which is a coupe? If anything it would be comparable more to the 5 series.
Of course the Gen 5.0 will be cheaper, as the BMW holds a premium over Hyundai's Gen line of cars---of which they seriously need to sub brand it and have dealerships for.