Rede Dr. Norbert Reithofer Auftaktveranstaltung "100 Jahre BMW Group"

Ladies and Gentlemen,

meine sehr geehrten Damen und Herren,

dieser Auftritt heute ist eine große Ehre für mich. Im vergangenen Jahr haben wir den Generationswechsel an der Spitze des Unternehmens vollzogen. Ich freue mich sehr, heute bei diesem großen Jubiläum als Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats zu Ihnen zu sprechen. Sehr herzlich begrüße ich alle Exzellenzen, unsere Ehrengäste, Mitarbeiter, Partner und Freunde der BMW Group. Unsere Bundeskanzlerin Frau Dr. Merkel kann aus Gründen der aktuellen Europapolitik heute leider nicht bei uns sein. Sie hat es sich jedoch nicht nehmen lassen, eine Videobotschaft zu senden. Als Vertreter der Bundesregierung begrüße ich sehr herzlich Alexander Dobrinth, unseren Bundesminister für Verkehr und digitale Infrastruktur. Hier in der Halle sind ebenfalls der Bayerische Ministerpräsident, Horst Seehofer, und der Münchner Oberbürgermeister, Dieter Reiter. Ihnen beiden ein schwungvolles „Grüß Gott“. Auch unseren Vorsitzenden des Gesamtbetriebsrats, Manfred Schoch, und seine Betriebsratskollegen begrüße ich sehr herzlich. Ein besonders freundlicher Gruß gilt unseren Großaktionären Susanne Klatten und Stefan Quandt.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Excellencies, Dear Guests,

Today, more than 100,000 BMW Group associates around the world are watching today’s event live. Let’s greet them with a big “Hello from Munich”! Please give them a warm applause! And here, in the Olympic Hall, there are 300 associates representing all of the company’s locations in more than

140 countries. A big applause to you as well.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

For the past 100 years, the BMW Group’s philosophy has been: The future belongs to those who are bold enough to discover the unknown – to explore new and groundbreaking ideas. The BMW Group has achieved this time and time again, yet remaining true to its roots. Here are three examples:

• In the middle of the oil crisis, in the early seventies, the

BMW Group believed in the future of mobility: The company opened a new plant in Dingolfing.

• Early on, the BMW Group began expanding its activities around the globe, determined to win new customers.
• Through project i, the company clearly confirmed its commitment to sustainable mobility.

Today, as throughout its history, the BMW Group strives to set the pace, to show the way and to lead from the front. Its enduring commitment to engineering excellence, to innovation and to adaptation, has been an inspiration to many, even far beyond the car industry. The company has always looked ahead, constantly challenging itself. It is convinced that: The best way to predict the future is to create it. This has always been the BMW Group’s driving force.

It’s all about giving customers a unique mobility experience. The BMW Group combines passion with innovation – tailored to the customer’s individual needs, not only today, but tomorrow. This passion has driven the company forward to today’s milestone and will continue to be the BMW Group’s greatest strength going into the future.

Lieber Horst Seehofer,

lieber Dieter Reiter,

hier in München und Bayern liegen unsere Wurzeln. Nur rund 1 km entfernt entstand das erste BMW Werk. Auf genau dieses Gelände kehrt das Unternehmen nach 100 Jahren mit der BMW Group Classic nun zurück. Dort hat heute früh Harald Krüger, der Vorstandsvorsitzende der BMW Group, eine Pressekonferenz gegeben. Und gleich wird er hier in der Halle die nächsten 100 Jahre einleiten. Ich begrüße Sie, Herr Krüger und den gesamten Vorstand.

BMW began as a small company with only one brand. Today the BMW Group is a global company, with three strong premium brands and over 120,000 associates worldwide. In Munich alone, people from over 100 different nations are employed by the company. This spirit of “diversity” is what makes this company so special. Added to that, the BMW Group has been fortunate to have strong partners at its side: Investors, suppliers and dealers throughout the world, as well as governmental representatives, analysts and the media: They all have joined us on this journey over the past 100 years, and I’m certain they will continue to do so in the future. I am delighted to see so many of you here at today’s event. Most of all, the BMW Group would not be what it is today without loyal customers. On behalf of the BMW Group, I would like to express my sincere thanks to all the customers around the globe. They have made the company the leader it is today.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In a moment, we will be honored to hear from Bavaria’s Ministerpresident Horst Seehofer. But before that, I’d like to finish on a point I am certain we can all agree on: A company is only as good as its people. And this company has great people, a unique team spirit and a strong sense of commitment. Most of all, there is a strong desire to be the best:

• to create compelling vehicles
• to develop new technologies and services
• to make the customer experience something altogether unforgettable.

I believe there are three attributes that define the BMW Group: Passion, Performance and Pride.

And now Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have great pleasure in introducing something very special – created by over 3,000 BMW Group associates around the world,

in honor of this special event.

Ich wünsche uns allen heute viel Freude.

Vielen Dank.