BMW Group announces leadership transition at San Luis Potosí plant

BMW Group has announced a leadership change at its San Luis Potosí plant. Effective January 1, 2026, Klaus von Moltke will assume the role of President and CEO, succeeding Harald Gottsche, who concludes his tenure after guiding the facility through a pivotal phase of growth and innovation.

Von Moltke, a South America–born executive, currently serves as Senior Vice President for Engine Production at BMW AG and as Director of the Steyr plant in Austria, the company’s largest engine manufacturing site. With more than 25 years of international experience in planning, industrialization, conceptual design, and project management, he has held key positions in South Africa, the Netherlands, and Germany, overseeing manufacturing processes and engine production for multiple BMW models.

His arrival marks the beginning of a new chapter for the San Luis Potosí plant, which will be one of the production sites for the upcoming BMW iX3, built on the NEUE KLASSE platform. The model represents a major milestone in BMW Group’s global electrification strategy and will be among the core projects led by von Moltke.

“At BMW Group’s largest engine plant, I had the opportunity to help deliver exceptional engines for the NEUE KLASSE. Now, I am truly excited to help bring NEUE KLASSE vehicles to the roads together with the outstanding team in San Luis Potosí. Despite the challenging conditions we all face, we will continue writing our company’s success story in the Americas,” von Moltke said.

Gottsche, who took over the plant’s leadership in December 2020 after more than two decades within BMW’s global production network, played a key role in strengthening the facility’s capabilities and regional impact.

Before completing his tenure, he offered an exclusive interview to Cluster Industrial, sharing insights into the plant’s achievements, challenges, and future vision, as well as the potential of the local talent that has driven its progress. The interview will be published soon.

BMW Group expressed its appreciation for Gottsche’s contributions and welcomed von Moltke, reaffirming its commitment to innovation, technological development, and the promotion of Mexican talent.

“Harald Gottsche and Klaus von Moltke are highly experienced plant leaders with strong leadership qualities and extensive technical expertise,” said Milan Nedeljković, BMW AG Board Member for Production. “Both plants will set the course for the future in the coming years and will play a crucial role in expanding electromobility.”