Effective 1 December, Olaf Kastner will take over as head of the BMW Group's China sales region from Karsten Engel, who will be returning to Germany. Kastner was previously head of the BMW Brilliance Automotive joint venture, which produces and markets vehicles in China for the BMW Group and its Chinese partner, Brilliance China Auto. Anton Heiss will become president and CEO of BMW Brilliance Automotive. Heiss currently manages the joint venture's production sites in Shenyang and will continue this role for the time being in addition to his new position.
Engel joined the BMW Group in 1985 and has been head of the China sales region since the end of 2012. Under his management, the group expanded the range of products and services for its largest single market and successfully introduced electro-mobility with BMW i.
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Kastner managed the BMW Brilliance joint venture for the past six years. "I am delighted that, in Olaf Kastner, our largest market has a new manager who knows the Chinese automotive business extremely well, as well as the culture, the country and its people," said group finance chief Friedrich Eichiner. The successful joint venture with Brilliance China Auto was extensively expanded under Kastner and the contract has been extended early for another 10 years to 2028.
Heiss started his career at the group in 1988 and has held various manager roles in production and powertrain systems worldwide. Heiss has been responsible for the three production plants in Shenyang – two vehicle plants and an engine plant – and the R&D and purchasing activities since 2013.
