Each year, Automotive News, one of the industry's more popular websites for, well, automotive news, selects its all-stars in a variety of categories. The 2015 All-Stars made the news in a year that will be known for massive recalls, serious safety problems in some manufacturers' cars, and of course the Volkswagen emissions-cheating scandal.
Amid all that, the Automotive News staff continued to recognize that “outstanding individuals make a difference, even in a business of huge companies and global scale."
The Automotive News pick for U.S. Executive European Automaker is Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO of BMW of North America.
In 2011, the year Willish took over BMW NA, BMW also took over the luxury sales title from long-time holder Lexus. In the four years that Willisch has been at the helm, BMW has captured the luxury sales championship three times. BMW sales under Willisch have grown 37 percent, setting a new sales record each year and 2015 should see another new record as well.
Willisch also implemented a program to improve BMW NA’s communications and relationships with its dealers, and appointed a retail and industry relations manager. He is also changing the way BMW dealers sell cars with the Future Retail program. Under Future Retail, many dealers will welcome customers to new or totally revamped stores.
Under his tenure, BMW NA has also required dealers to integrate BMW Geniuses into their sales approach. These product experts explain the ever-expanding features and technology in BMWs to prospective buyers as well as new owners upon delivery and after.
It was Willisch who pushed for the BMW X7, the top-of-the-line Sports Activity Vehicle in both size and luxury. This full-size crossover is expected in the U.S. market in 2017 and will be built in BMW Plant Spartanburg in South Carolina.
As a function of building sales, Willisch has led BMW NA as it integrated new BMW products in new market segments in the U.S. and Canada, to include lower-priced entry-level cars like the BMW 320i sedan, the X1 Sports Activity Vehicle, and the 2 Series coupe, convertible, and coming this spring, the new M2. It reflects well upon Willisch that over 80 percent of the people buying these new lines are new to BMW.
The 59-year old CEO is not just an office-bound numbers guy. Willisch is an enthusiast who appreciates not only the new BMW products that he sells, but also the cars that made BMW what it is today. He has visited the BMW Car Club of America’s annual Oktoberfest gathering, was on hand to support the BMW CCA Foundation earlier this year when the Foundation auctioned a special M5 at the Barrett-Jackson auction, and regularly suits up and drives BMW’s vintage 3.0 CSL race car—the same one that won the Twelve Hours of Sebring 40 years ago—in the vintage races at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Mazda/Laguna Seca Raceway.
The editors of Automotive News picked Ludwig Willisch as a 2015 All-Star. We concur.—Scott Blazey
[Photo courtesy of BMW AG.]
