Just days before stepping down as chief executive, BMW chief Oliver Zipse still reflected on his venture into carsharing. He said that the decision “might have been made differently”. The company withdrew from the ShareNow joint venture with Mercedes‑Benz in 2022 after sustained losses.
Despite the ongoing industry downturn, Zipse appeared calm, underscoring BMW’s strategy of keeping its technology roadmap open, leveraging global networks and delivering customer‑centric products. “We offer all types of powertrains and own strong brands. We have no reason to change course right now – we’ll stay the course” he said.
In a broader context, he urged Germany to show more entrepreneurial spirit instead of complaining. “The goal is to remain competitive. Germany’s strength lies in its international connectivity – a benefit we should not abandon lightly” he added.
When asked about his own future, Zipse said, “I’m looking forward to a quieter pace – but retirement is not in the cards for me. Let’s see what happens”.