BMW Names Klaus von Moltke CEO of San Luis Potosi Plant

BMW Group will implement a leadership transition at its San Luis Potosi plant effective Jan. 1, 2026, appointing Klaus von Moltke as President and CEO. He will succeed Harald Gottsche, who concludes his tenure after overseeing a period of expansion, model diversification, and preparations for BMW’s upcoming NEUE KLASSE production cycle. The plant is slated to become one of the manufacturing sites for the BMW iX3, a key model on the NEUE KLASSE platform.

Von Moltke currently serves as Senior Vice President for Engine Production at BMW AG and Director of the Steyr plant in Austria, BMW Group’s largest engine facility. He brings over 25 years of experience in planning, industrialization, conceptual design, and project management.

“At BMW Group’s largest engine plant, I had the opportunity to help deliver the engines for the NEUE KLASSE. Now I look forward to bringing NEUE KLASSE vehicles to the road with the team in San Luis Potosí. Despite challenging conditions, we will continue writing the company’s success story in the Americas,” said Klaus von Moltke in an official statement.

The BMW iX3 will be among the first NEUE KLASSE models produced at the facility. The vehicle is central to the company’s electrification strategy, which also includes expanding high-voltage battery module production. At the San Luis Potosi site, construction of an 80,000-square-meter battery module production center is underway, supported by an €800 million investment. Around 500 employees will be involved in operations once completed.

During his tenure, Gottsche led the plant through its transition to multi-model production and capacity expansion. He joined the site in December 2020 after more than 20 years within BMW’s global production network. Under his leadership, the plant achieved a production milestone of 500,000 units and incorporated strategic models including the BMW 2 Series Coupé, BMW M2, and limited editions such as the M2 CS and M2 Racing. The facility also expanded assembly and logistics operations by 10,000 square meters and extended its body shop by 20,000 square meters.