Oliver Zipse, chief executive and chairman of BMW, has been named World Car Person of the Year 2026 by the World Car Awards — one of the automotive industry’s most respected accolades, decided by a jury of 98 motoring journalists spanning 33 countries.
The recognition honours the individual judged to have exerted the greatest influence on the global auto industry over the past year. Zipse, who has led BMW since 2019, was selected for steering the company through one of the most significant periods of transformation in its history.
Under his watch, BMW has pursued a deliberately broad approach to electrification — maintaining a full spectrum of powertrains, including electric, hybrid, petrol, and diesel, while simultaneously investing in the next generation of vehicles.
Central to that vision is the “Neue Klasse” platform, a new lineup of purpose-built electric cars that signals BMW’s long-term direction. The company is on track to launch around 40 new models by 2027, accompanied by fresh design language, overhauled software architecture, and more advanced in-car technology.
The first car to emerge from this new era — the BMW iX3 — is already among the finalists for World Car of the Year 2026, underlining the early impact of the strategy Zipse has championed.
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He was chosen ahead of fellow finalists David Craig, a product manager at General Motors, and Tisha Johnson, head of design at automotive company Slate.
The award comes near the close of Zipse’s tenure at the company he has served for 35 years. He is expected to step down as CEO in May 2026, with production chief Milan Nedeljković lined up to succeed him.