Ilka Horstmeier on BMW's sustainability goals and social responsibility

In an era when companies around the world are increasingly committed to sustainability, BMW is also taking active steps in this direction. To mark the half-century anniversary of its operations in South Africa, BMW has strengthened its close ties with the country and invited the media to a special event to showcase its local initiatives.

Over the three days, BMW discussed topics ranging from promoting youth employment and skills development to developing the circular economy and innovations in electrification, as well as partnering with NGOs such as UNICEF to fund training in STEM subjects. To find out more about the company's initiatives in South Africa and beyond, we''met with Ilka Horstmeier, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for personnel and real estate and labor relations.

In an open statement, Ms. Horstmeier defined BMW's multi-disciplinary approach to sustainability based on several principles: economic, social and environmental. "We, in the BMW Group, aim to reduce the carbon footprint of the entire value chain by 40% by 2030," Ms. Horstmeier said. "We do this by looking at supply, production and, of course, vehicles. "

The BMW Board of Management member also stresses the importance of education and training for employees to adapt to electrification and digitalization. In South Africa, BMW has set itself the goal of achieving a certain number''children through educational programs and is partnering with UNICEF to achieve this goal.

Of course, the company also wants to support the next generation of leaders. Therefore, according to Ms. Horstmeyer, BMW is investing in leadership development by focusing on developing responsible leaders around the world and participating in the One Young World program to inspire and motivate young leaders.

"We have been actively involved in education for many years," says Ms. Horstmeyer. "Back in 2020, we set a goal to provide educational programs for one million children across all of our locations, and I am proud to announce that we successfully achieved that goal last year. As a result, we are now setting a new goal, and''That's why we are looking for new partners. We are delighted to be working with UNICEF and our commitment extends to 2030. "

So, what's the next goal? According to a member of the Board of Management, BMW now aims to achieve educational programs for ten million children every year. In South Africa, they intend to invest half a million euros a year, and this initiative will not just be limited to existing investments in Ntsha-Peu and Lethabong schools. BMW plans to extend their support to 18 additional schools across all nine provinces of South Africa.

"Moreover, we have plans to expand our efforts to other countries where BMW operates," says Ms. Horstmeyer. "These countries include Brazil, Mexico, China, India and Thailand. "

When it comes to diversity and''equality, BMW works with the United Nations Alliance of Civil Societies to promote diversity, tolerance and democracy. They work with non-profit organizations and provide training to enhance their abilities. Naturally, art, culture and sports have always played an important role at BMW. Therefore, the company supports artists and cultural projects as well as engages in sports initiatives to bring people together and fund organizations.

Locally and globally, BMW aims to strengthen its sustainability efforts. The circular economy has become a hot topic in Munich in recent years. According to Ms. Horstmeier, these issues are key for the company: the use of secondary''materials in their products, reducing CO2 emissions, improving supply chain resilience and decoupling growth from resource consumption.

Jsa Horstmeyer points to BMW's i Vision Circular project, which demonstrates what can be achieved, although full circularity in their operations is not currently feasible. The concept encompasses a comprehensive approach to sustainability that includes the supply chain, manufacturing processes, and user experience of their vehicles. In addition, BMW must recover and recycle materials, especially in the case of batteries, which may not be feasible until the mid-2030s.

When asked how BMW allocates budgets for its corporate social responsibility initiatives, Ms. Horstmeyer''points out that everything is done at the project level and is separated from profit. "The budget is not profit-driven but is based on the company's commitment to social and environmental responsibility. The focus is on impact and long-term commitment rather than the amount of money spent," Ms.

It's not all just about cash investments, however. The BMW Group is also mobilizing its employees, opening up its networks and committing other resources to support projects around the world. Ms. Horstmeyer emphasizes that employee engagement is a key part of this approach. At the Ntsha-Peu school, a team of two BMW employees assembled and installed solar panels and stored energy in a set of batteries from a used hybrid''BMW cars. More on this in a separate article.

At last, a member of the BMW Board of Management points out that the focus is on impact. She emphasizes that it's not just about how much money BMW spends on sustainability initiatives, but how they spend it and the impact it can have. Their approach is more focused on creating a sustainable and meaningful difference rather than a specific financial goal.

Mrs. Horstmeyer recognizes the particular challenges faced in South Africa, especially in the areas of education and unemployment. She emphasizes that unemployment is a major problem in South Africa and addressing it is important. BMW believes that by investing in education, they can''To create a skilled workforce that will help alleviate unemployment. And that starts with education from primary to secondary schools and universities.

In 2025, BMW will enter a new era. The Neue Klasse architecture is not just about cars, it's about a complete restructuring of the company, from products to people, from manufacturing to supply chain. We asked Ms. Horstmeyer what Neue Klasse means to people, especially those who grew up with the slogan "Ultimate Driving Machine".

"We will remain the company that creates the Ultimate Driving Machine," she says. "It's very important to us. Also, the future of mobility is filled with the joy and pleasure of driving. It's a digital transformation that encompasses everything, and this concept is shared by people from all walks of life. They believe in the concept of mobility.''Moreover, many young people, including university students, are attracted to BMW because they are passionate about solving the challenges of making mobility more digital, electric and sustainable. This is seen as the future of mobility that preserves freedom of movement. The entire company is fully committed to this vision and we are constantly working to achieve it. "

In addition, Ms. Horstmeyer says that Neue Klasse is not just about changing the architecture of the car; it is a transformation of the entire company. "We are actually going through a transformation process for every plant in our company," she says. "And that gives people the confidence that we're counting on them, that we need them, that we're promoting and retraining them for this''a new challenge'.

She cites the example of the engine plant in Munich. According to Ms. Horstmeyer, BMW made the difficult decision to modernize and relocate the engine plant in 2020, which caused an emotional reaction from the dedicated employees who create high-quality engines. Despite the challenges, the company ensured that all 1,200 employees found new jobs within BMW.

But it's not just about electric cars. The Board Member mentions the company's investment in hydrogen as an alternative to battery electric vehicles. Ms. Horstmeier, along with other Board members, sees hydrogen as a potential solution for situations where the prerequisites for battery electric vehicles are not met, such as''limited natural resources or charging station infrastructure.

It's no secret that the auto industry today thrives on the sale of many large and inefficient SUVs. When asked if their latest environmental initiatives could be perceived as "green-righteous," Ms. Horstmeyer said: "Absolutely not!" "I think we showed today that this is not our way of acting," she added, referring to the shk