New managing director, taking charge on March 1, is the fourth in a decade.

Karol Abrasowicz-Madej departs as BMW managing director on the eve of availability of an important new electric car, the i4.

ANNOUNCEMENT of a BMW New Zealand’s management reshape has been made, just days after the operation shared data showing positive growth in 2021, led by electrified offerings.

BMW Group said today Adam Shaver will be managing director of BMW Group New Zealand with effect from March 1.

The Canadian replaces Karol Abrasowicz-Madej, who will “embark on a new career direction outside the BMW Group”, according to a media release.

Shaver is set to be the fourth managing director for the marque’s local operation in 10 years.

There has been no comment furnished from Abrasowicz-Madej, whose tenure dates back to September 1 of 2018. He came to the role with more than 16 years’ BMW experience.

Radical staffing revisions occurred during the Pole’s tenure and the brand also sold its bespoke headquarters in Pacific Drive, Auckland, though they remain in occupation.

Abrasowicz-Madej (above) arrived from overseas to replace Florian Renndorfer, a German national, who had in 2015 succeeded Nina Englert. Her predecessor, Mark Gilbert, was the most recent New Zealander to hold the post.

Shaver began his BMW Group career in Toronto, Canada, in 2002. He has held senior roles over that time with both the BMW and MINI brands based in Munich and Canada.

His experience includes positions in product management, price and volume planning, and four years as director of MINI Canada. Most recently he has been responsible for ‘global marketing, planning and steering’ for MINI in Munich.

In supplied comment, Shaver (below) made mention of NZ being the strongest markets in the world for uptake of both electrified models and BMW M models – factors BMW NZ identified in its own market reflection issued on February 2.

Today’s media share also included comment from Hendrik von Kuenheim, senior vice president Region Asia Pacific, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa.

He said Abrasowicz-Madej deserved thanks “for his contribution and strong leadership in transforming and driving the business forward during his tenure ...

“He deserves special tribute for helping the group achieve continued growth in the face of the global pandemic.”

Von Kuenheim said Shaver’s diverse international experience across BMW’s brand portfolio “puts him in a strong position to lead BMW Group New Zealand just as we continue to enhance our electrified vehicle offering in parallel with ongoing delivery of exceptional customer service.”

In its round-up of how business had been in 2021, BMW NZ said 1827 new BMW vehicles were registered nationally, which marked a 15 percent increase on the 2020 figure.

MINI achieved record sales results with 848 new vehicle registrations – a 28 percent increase on the same period last year with 16 percent of total MINI sales electrified. The latter confirmed New Zealand as one of the strongest markets in the world for the uptake of electrified MINIs, the Auckland-based operation said.

It cited the MINI Electric Hatch and MINI Countryman Plug-in Hybrid as being key drivers behind last year’s result, with 138 and 120 vehicles registered respectively.

Sales of BMW-badged product was led by the X range vehicles - these represented more than 55 per cent of the total sales volume – and registrations of fully electric BMWs were up 65 percent. Growth is expected to elevated further with new products now hitting the ground; the iX3 (that arrived in December), the iX which is representing in modest count and the i4, the latter on sale from April in two variants.

A 146 percent increase in registrations of BMW’s plug-in hybrid models was also registered, the 330e sedan and X5 xDrive45e performing particularly well.

The growth meant every fifth BMW Group vehicle registered in 2021 was electrified, while every third MINI registered featured a form of electric propulsion.

New Zealand’s love affair with BMW M continued unabated in 2021 with a 27 percent increase in registrations of these sports-focused models, a penetration that confirmed the country as one of the top three markets globally for sales share based on per head of population for BMW M.