Agence France-Presse reports that Helmut Panke, chairman of BMW, told the newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung he expects the European car market to contract by one or two percent next year.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more


“We’ll probably have to prepare ourselves for a contraction of one to two percent in the European and German markets,” Panke told the daily.


“The US market will remain stable, while the market of the future will be Asia.”


The BMW chief also criticised the tax changes proposed by the German government as a way of curbing the public deficit.


Among the measures proposed, Berlin wants to tax company cars, a move Panke said could lead to the loss of up to 10,000 jobs in the sector as a whole and cut BMW’s sales by three percent.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

The measures being proposed by the government would cost BMW around 120 million euros a year, Panke warned, according to AFP.

Just Auto Excellence Awards - The Benefits of Entering

Gain the recognition you deserve! The Just Auto Excellence Awards celebrate innovation, leadership, and impact. By entering, you showcase your achievements, elevate your industry profile, and position yourself among top leaders driving automotive industry advancements. Don’t miss your chance to stand out—submit your entry today!

Nominate Now