Key Appointment at BMW: Milan Nedeljković Takes the Helm Before an Ambitious Wave of 40 Launches

This transition occurs just before the beginning of a massive model refresh, with approximately 40 new and refreshed vehicles planned through the end of 2027.

BMW’s Supervisory Board has named Milan Nedeljković as the new CEO. This replacement follows the company’s age limit policy for management board members, typically set at 60 years. BMW has relaxed the rules for Oliver Zipse, who will leave the Management Board at age 62. The company will also make an exception for Nedeljković, whose contract expires in 2031.

Nedeljković, aged 56, steps into the role amidst a colossal product program. Oliver Zipse laid the groundwork for this product surge under the Neue Klasse brand. Since 2019, Zipse successfully led the company, comfortably surpassing Mercedes-Benz and Audi in the premium manufacturers’ sales race. Zipse also had to guide BMW through the challenging years of the coronavirus pandemic.

Product Roadmap: Key Launches Before 2028

The BMW lineup renewal recently began with the 2026 iX3. The upcoming year will be particularly busy for the company. BMW has already confirmed the presentation of the eighth generation 3 Series and the electric i3 sedan. The fifth generation X5 will also debut in 2026, offered for the first time as a battery-electric vehicle.

The 7 Series restyling will also launch in 2026. We could see the return of the X4 that same year, this time exclusively as the all-electric iX4. Furthermore, an i3 Touring for estate car enthusiasts is a possibility before 2030. A hydrogen fuel cell derivative of the X5, developed with Toyota, is planned, though it will not arrive before 2028.

Range Expansion and the Future of Alpina

The BMW family will grow to include at least three new models before the end of the decade, according to reports. There has already been talk of a potential rugged SUV, based on the next-generation X5. This model is designed to compete against the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and the Land Rover Defender. It will be offered with plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains.

The other two additions will reportedly serve as entry-level electric vehicles. A five-door hatchback might be named i1, followed by a four-door sedan rumored to be the i2. The electric vehicle lineup will probably include an iX6 and an iX7, in addition to the mentioned iX4 and iX5. Following the acquisition of Alpina in early 2022, the company will steer this brand in a new direction next year. The Alpina 7 Series is expected to return, closely followed by a new X7.