REGIONAL> Highlights
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REGIONAL> Highlights
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One on one with BMW's Hans Kroeppelt
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-08-11 13:18 Q: Does BMW Brilliance have plans to push for localization? A: As a premium auto maker, BMW Brilliance has deeply integrated itself into the Chinese society. It has a long-term commitment to the market and the customers. By the end of 2007, the number of BBA’s local supplier exceeded 100. And the local purchasing volume increased 80 percent from the previous year, reaching 3.6 billion. Our target for 2008 is to have 150 local suppliers and 4.4 billion in local purchasing volume. In the long run, we are committed to increasing the local content, which will not only support the development of local suppliers but also enhance the competitiveness of our products. Q: I believe BMW has not only made great efforts in localization but also social contributions to China. A: For BMW, corporate social contribution is not merely money, responsibility and a simple cause of charity, but much more the source of corporate development, innovation and sharpening competitiveness. BMW China’s corporate social contribution activities mainly cover five areas: cultural promotion, educational support, environmental protection, customer integration and corporate governance. For instance, we provide the BMW Excellent University Students Award Fund to enable students to afford a normal living and study, so as to devote themselves to study and research securely. Also, BMW sponsored the world-famous Liaoning Ballet for four top Chinese and foreign ballet performances with the aim of promoting and popularizing cultures. In addition, we will further strengthen our social contribution activities and act as an excellent and responsible corporate citizen in China. In June, BMW, together with the China Charity Foundation, instituted the BMW Warm Heart Fund to support the reestablishment of the earthquake-hit area in China. We are not only committed to the country but also to the people here. Hans Kroeppelt is senior vice president manufacturing for BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd. (BBA). He joined BMW Group in 1980 and became a senior manager for the 3 and 5 Series in 1988. After several years working experience of manufacturing, he worked as an executive manager for "Engineering, Project Management, Quality and Strategic Factory Planning" at Plant Rosslyn, South Africa from 1997 to 2001. Then he came back to Germany to be the head of "Component Assembly for 3, 5, 6 and 7 Series" at Plant Dingolfing. In 2004, he became managing director of BMW Manufacturing Thailand Co., Ltd. And in 2007, he came to Shenyang as the senior vice president manufacturing of BBA. Hans has a master degree in mechanical engineering and precision engineering. He has joined in BMW for 28 years. In 2008, he won the Liaoning Friendship Award and was selected as a torchbearer of Beijing Olympics.
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