BMW will offer voluntary layoffs for almost half of its German employees, aiming to reduce 8,000 jobs by 2027.

BMW has announced that it will offer voluntary layoffs for nearly 40,000 of the 85,000 permanent employees in Germany, in an effort to reduce 8,000 jobs by the end of 2027.

The offer will be available starting in October and will target office employees, leaving production line workers unaffected. This decision comes against the backdrop of lower profit margins due to intense competition from China and tariffs in the U.S. Although BMW has managed to avoid costly strategic changes, it recently issued a profit warning, noting a significant decline in deliveries in China.

The voluntary layoff program is expected to significantly reduce the company's costs by 2028, with most departures occurring next year. This situation reflects the difficulties faced by the automotive sector in Germany, which lost 124,000 jobs last year, particularly in the industry.