Freer supply, better-specified BMWs coming

BMW Australia chief executive, Marc Werner, has revealed that the company is now in a stronger position to negotiate for the vehicles it wants following a reshuffle of the executive team in the Asia/Pacific region late last year.

The comments follow on from the first-time Australian visit in February by BMW Group Asia-Pacific senior vice-president, Hildegard Wortmann, which resulted in promises for more open communication and dialogue and greater support for BMW’s local arm.

Among the key outcomes are better access to vehicles, as well fewer obstacles in obtaining the correct specification for Australian market requirements.

“There’s never been a more productive period at BMW and especially here in Australia,” Mr Werner told journalists at the X2 compact SUV launch in Canberra late last month.

“And this past week has been especially busy for us as we have been hosting our new regional director, Hildegard Wortmann, on her first visit to Australia as the new boss of the what we call internally as the E3 region. She was accompanied by the regional director for BMW Financial Services, and together they helped us form the road map for the way forward.

“The one thing that did come out from that visit was the strong support from the new directors that they have for this region. We are known as one of the big three, and the importance of the Australian market is an essential focus for them.”

Mr Werner said the support of the regional boss was important in being able to grow its market presence in Australia.

“Hildegard left us with the strong commitment that she will be a strong supporter for us when it comes to pricing, specification and supply, so we are anticipating an excellent supply chain going forward. We have certainly been talking enough about it: 2018 and 2019 are going to be pivotal years for us in terms of new product, so that supply chain is going to be all-important for us.”

Based in Singapore, Ms Wortmann stepped up into her role on January 1, and assumes responsibility for the whole Asia-Pacific region (excluding China). She was previously head of BMW brand, responsible for both product management and marketing. Her predecessor in this region, Hendrik von Kuenheim, has moved on to head up Africa, the Middle East, Russia and other eastern Europe markets.