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UNAOC Nominees

Society

We are part of society.

UNAOC Nominees

Society

We are part of society.

Driving Social Impact.

With a multinational workforce on five continents, the BMW Group is more than just a carmaker. Together with our around 159,000 employees, we are an integral member of global society, a true corporate citizen. And as such, we see ourselves as part of the solution to a wide range of major issues and challenges ahead. In crises situations, we are quick and unbureaucratic to get aid to where it is needed the most. But above all, we develop long-term programmes that are fundamentally aligned with the competencies of our company and designed to have a lasting impact: we support young leaders committed to a fair, peaceful and sustainable future and are working for a diverse society with equal opportunities for all. We foster the education of children and young people because we know it’s key to a successful future, and with our activities in the fields of sports and culture, we reach out to people across the globe.

We approach our responsibilities as a corporate citizen with the same commitment and innovativeness as our work behind the factory gates, collaborating with all our relevant stakeholders and with strong partners such as UNICEF and the UN Alliance of Civilizations. What’s more, our BMW Group employees bring change across the globe in their own right, through innovative action and volunteering. Because responsibility is what drives us. Every day.

Portrait of Ilka Hostmeier
We’re not just a carmaker but an integral part of global society, and we take our corporate citizenship just as seriously as our core business. That’s because we believe that in the future, a company’s success will not only be measured by its financial results, but just as much by the social change it drives.
Ilka Horstmeier
Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, People and Real Estate, Labour Relations Director

The BMW Group is committed to its corporate citizenship worldwide. Our global partnerships are:

BRIDGE. Educating young people for tomorrow, today.

The BMW Group has long been supporting educational projects at its sites worldwide. We believe education is the engine that drives social development, generating growth, prosperity and social stability. Since late 2023, we have been collaborating with UNICEF, a strong partner, to further expand our commitment.

With BRIDGE. Educating young people for tomorrow, today we are supporting UNICEF in achieving its goal to reach 10 million children and young people each year through education. Our partnership focuses primarily on science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) education in South Africa, Brazil, Thailand, Mexico and India – all of which have programme needs and have BMW Group presence. It allows us to help young people develop the skills they need so that they can succeed in the future world of work. A key source of support are our experts on the ground.

In addition, the BMW Group intends to engage its global network of affiliates and stakeholders to raise funds to support UNICEF’s work in emergencies and protracted crises. The UN International Children’s Fund is a key contributor to providing children with the skills they need to cope with trauma, and creating a safe environment in which they can continue learning.

Think globally and act locally. That is our maxim.

Bridge
Intercultural Innovation Hub

Intercultural Innovation Hub.

Since 2011, we have been working with the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) to overcome intercultural challenges through social innovations. With the lntercultural Innovation Hub, we are creating a unique network that will bring nations and cultures together, strengthen organisations and promote intercultural innovation projects.

Our work focuses, in particular, on supporting gender equality and countering violent extremism, hatred and prejudice, as well as on promoting social cohesion and diversity through the arts, culture and sports. The selected organisations not only receive financial support, but also get the chance to participate in a one-year capacity-building programme in partnership with Accenture. By now, this partnership has already strengthened more than 90 organisations and reached over six million people.

A child smiles at the camera while wearing a motorcycle helmet that is too big for the child

Driving Social Impact.

The publication provides an overview of the BMW Group’s social commitment worldwide.

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Cultural Engagement.

Why Culture? Why not! Culture is knowledge, a sanctuary of beauty and depth, of meaning and peace. An inspiring escape. Tranquil at best, even unsettling sometimes. As a corporate citizen, the BMW Group takes social responsibility seriously, as part of which it has been involved in hundreds of cultural initiatives worldwide for over half a century, in the fields of contemporary art, music and film as well as in design. As a long-term partner, creative freedom is key – and as essential for groundbreaking works as it is for major innovations within a business enterprise like ours.

The BMW Group's Cultural Engagement, with exclusive updates and deeper insights into its global initiatives can be followed on Instagram at @BMWGroupCulture.

Two historical BMW vehicles parked infront of the BMW Museum. Contemporary Art: BMW Art Car #1 by Alexander Calder
Opera Square with a very large crowd. Music & Film: Opera for All in Munich
The Bandaloop-group performing on the BMW four-cylinder Design: BANDALOOP on the facade of the BMW Group headquarters

Contemporary Art.

When Gerhard Richter created the monumental paintings “Red,” “Yellow,” and “Blue” for the foyer of the BMW Headquarters in 1973, it was more than just a commission. It was a commitment to the power of art to open perspectives and make the future visible. Since then, the BMW Group has been deeply involved in numerous global initiatives for the visual arts. Artists serve as the seismographs of their time – sensing change before it happens and giving it a form that inspires us.  
The BMW Art Cars – initiated in 1975 by race car driver and art aficionado Hervé Poulain – are a testament to this vision, as are international partnerships with museums, biennales, art fairs, and platforms such as Art Basel, Art Dubai, Gallery Weekend Berlin, and Paris Photo. Dialogue consistently remains at the core of these efforts: most recently with Julie Mehretu’s 20th BMW Art Car and the African Film and Media Arts Collective (AFMAC), which connects young filmmakers across five African countries to create an anthology of contemporary African cinema.  
Targeted commissions on themes of mobility bring artists into direct collaboration with BMW Group designers and engineers, fostering profound mutual inspiration. Dedicated programmes in partnership with leading institutions like the Städel Museum in Frankfurt (“Städel Invites”), the “BMW Photo Award Leipzig” with the Museum der bildenden Künste Leipzig, and the Berlin-based “Preis der Nationalgalerie” focus on nurturing talent and providing broad access to contemporary exhibitions.  
Ongoing and past global engagements in the visual arts (selected highlights): BMW Art Guide by Independent Collectors, Premio di Pintura Madrid, BMW Art Makers for Les Rencontres d’Arles, Market Art Fair Stockholm, Albertina Museum Vienna, BMW Art Club Poland, Kunsthalle Prague, RAD Art Fair Bucharest, Danubiana Museum Slovakia, Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa Cape Town, FNB Art Joburg, Kochi-Muziris Biennale, India Art Fair, BMW Tate Live, BMW Guggenheim Lab, BMW Art Journey, TEFAF Art Fair, Kyotographie, Centro de las Artes Mexico, Fondazione Prada, Contemporary Istanbul, Art D’Égypte, West Bund Shanghai, Abu Dhabi Art, Dubai Design Week, Berlin Biennale, London Gallery Weekend, Taipei Dangdai, and SP-Arte (São Paulo Arte). 

A white BMW 5 series with colorful patterns on it, the same patterns can be found as pictures on the wall. BMW i5: Flow NOSTOKANA by Esther Mahlangu 2024
Four people in a performance behind a curtain on an orange-lit stage "SURFACE" by Es Devlin
get together on a beautiful meadow in front of a historic building Städel Invites with the Städel Museum
illuminated drones fly through the sky at night Studio Drift's "Franchise Freedom"
Modern BMW 7 Series with colour gradient from blue to coral, on which a man is leaning. Alex Israel "REMEMBR"
A man and a woman standing infront of three pastel-colored pictures. BMW Art Makers at the Paris Photo
A woman holding a piece of wood in a green room Sandra Mujinga, Preis der Nationalgallerie
BMW Art Guide by Independent Collectors BMW Art Guide by Independent Collectors

Music & Film.

Music transcends cultural and linguistic boundaries. For the BMW Group, it is a cornerstone of its global cultural engagement. As early as 1979, BMW co-founded Spielmotor e.V., one of Germany’s first public-private partnerships, to support independent cultural projects. Since then, BMW, in collaboration with the City of Munich, has backed initiatives such as the Munich Biennale for new music theatre, the SPIELART festival for contemporary theatre, and DANCE.

From London to Italy, via Warsaw to Melbourne, Bangkok and Shanghai, the BMW Group organizes open-air concerts worldwide, supports music festivals and develops educational programs. The “Opera for All” format has been bringing opera broadcasts and concerts into public spaces since 1997 with the Bavarian State Opera. Internationally, it is implemented in Berlin with the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, in London with the London Symphony Orchestra and in Melbourne with Opera Australia. Partnerships with renowned institutions such as Teatro alla Scala in Milan and the Sugi Opera in Seoul further expand this global network. BMW also collaborates with the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra to host the educational programme “Spielfeld Klassik,” which includes the exemplary “BMW Club Concerts” format. In jazz, BMW fosters the next generation of musicians through initiatives like the “BMW Young Artist Jazz Award.”

In the realm of film, BMW partners with prestigious international festivals such as Cannes and Marrakech and supports emerging filmmakers through programmes like the “BMW Shorties” in Malaysia and the “African Film and Media Arts Collective” as part of the 20th BMW Art Car project. Simultaneously, BMW has a strong presence in commercial cinema, appearing in Hollywood productions like ”Mission: Impossible” and innovating with projects such as the short film series ”The Hire”, which was a pioneer in transforming brand storytelling into a cinematic experience.

Other ongoing and past global engagements in music and film (selected highlights): Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Bregenzer Festspiele, Bangkok International Festival of Dance and Music, JZ Festival Shanghai, Mieczysław Karłowicz Philharmonic, Warsaw National Opera, Hungarian State Opera in Budapest, SoNoRo International Chamber Music Festival Bucharest, Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Deutscher Filmpreis, International Film Festival Marrakech, and the Blue Dragon Film Awards.

A very large crowd stands in front of a stage in the centre of a city between historic buildings. State Opera for All Berlin
A huge crowd listening to a concert outdoors. BMW Classics London
A woman in a blue dress siging on a stage with a orchestra in the background Opera for All Melbourne
A concert for a smaller group of people. A modern BMW X3 and a historic Isetta are parked next to the stage Spielfeld Klassik in the BMW Welt
A concert for a smaller group of people. A modern BMW X3 and a historic Isetta are parked next to the stage BMW Clubconcert at Pacha
A two-colored BMW i7 parked on a platform overviewing a long beach BMW at the Festival de Cannes: Juliette Binoche
illuminated letters ‘shorties’ in front of a modern building and information boards next to it BMW Shorties Malaysia
A group of african people sitting together listening to a presentation African Film and Media Arts Collective

Design.

For the BMW Group, design is more than formal aesthetics – it embodies a mindset, a driving force of innovation, and a commitment to continually reinvent mobility. The company set a precedent for architectural progress as early as 1972 with its Munich headquarters, designed by Karl Schwanzer. This legacy was furthered through collaborations with Zaha Hadid (BMW Plant Leipzig), Coop Himmelb(l)au (BMW Welt), and Sir Nicholas Grimshaw (Rolls-Royce Plant Goodwood), advancing its design ethos on a global scale.

For nearly a century, the BMW Group has developed design solutions with a clear focus: people. Its subsidiary, Designworks, carries this vision worldwide, with studios in California, Munich, and, as of 2023, Shanghai. Since 2009, Adrian van Hooydonk, head of BMW Group Design, has championed a philosophy that seamlessly integrates technology with aesthetics.

At the BMW Museum, visitors can experience design history firsthand, with 125 original exhibits housed in an architecturally distinctive exhibition setting. Moreover, the BMW Group maintains a strong presence on international design platforms such as the Salone del Mobile in Milan, creating spaces that foster dialogue between design, art, and society.

Exterior view of the BMW Welt and BMW four-cylinder BMW Headquarters by Karl Schwanzer and BMW Welt by Coop Himmelb(l)au
Exterior view of the BMW museum on a sunny day. BMW Museum by Karl Schwanzer
Exterior vie wof the BMW Welt during the blue hour with the Olympic tower in the background BMW Welt by Coop Himmelb(l)au
Exterior view of a modern building. BMW Plant Leipzig by Zaha Hadid
Aerial view of the Rolls Royce Plant in Goodwood Rolls-Royce plant in Goodwood by Sir Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners
Rear of a BMW X3 through reflecting pillars BMW at the Salone del Mobile with "Vibrant Transitions"
A sculpture of the front of a historic BMW standing in a beautiful courtyard BMW at the Salone del Mobile with "A creative's journey"
Rear of a BMW X3 through reflecting pillars "Spheres" Perspectives in Precision & Poetry for BMW von Alfredo Häberli

Culture within the Company.

The BMW Group’s cultural engagement extends beyond external initiatives – it is deeply embedded in the company’s own culture. Employees are regularly offered insights into ongoing projects and can take advantage of numerous opportunities for personal enrichment and leisure activities. Since 2013, the BMW Group Sports and Cultural Club e.V. has supported activities for employees, their families, and friends.

Through its “KulturMobile” initiative, the BMW Group provides quarterly updates on cultural events in the Munich area. Alongside recommendations from its partner network, the company organizes exclusive formats for employees, ranging from concert visits to artist studio tours.

A special chapter of the company’s cultural engagement is its own in-house music and art initiatives. Founded in 1979, the BMW Choir has become a cornerstone of the company’s musical life, performing both nationally and internationally. Similarly, the BMW band “Dixi Drivers,” named after the brand’s first car, has held a celebrated place since 1983. Artistic talent within the workforce is showcased in “Galerie 71” at the BMW Group Plant in Munich, where employees’ artworks are exhibited.

Additionally, BMW Group properties around the world are regularly adorned with art acquisitions sourced from academies near their production sites. A dedicated curatorial team manages and archives the collection, curating rotating thematic exhibitions to bring art into the workplace.

A modern room with a blue painting hanging on the wall Gerhard Richter group of works “Red-Yellow-Blue” in the foyer of the BMW Tower
A red painting hanging on a wall
A yellow painting hanging on the wall

Our commitment to Foundations.

Young people at a lecture
Young people at a lecture

As a company that does business worldwide, the BMW Group has an enormous social responsibility. Foundations like the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt and the Eberhard von Kuenheim Foundation aim to raise awareness about social community, tolerance and respect. We want our foundations to connect people and inspire them to share their ideas and experiences, providing them with the opportunities and knowledge to help make the world a better place. 

The BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt is an independent corporate foundation whose activities contribute to the mission and social responsibility of the BMW Group. Founded by BMW AG in 1970 on the occasion of Herbert Quandt’s sixtieth birthday, the foundation was an expression of gratitude to him for his commitment to saving the company in 1959. In the 1950s, BMW had found itself in an increasingly critical situation, with Daimler-Benz submitting a temporary offer of a rescue package in late 1959. But at the AGM on 9 December that year, small shareholders and employees declined the offer. Inspired by their perseverance and his own faith in the company’s forthcoming products, Herbert Quandt expanded his stake.

The BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt promotes responsible leadership and inspires leaders worldwide to work towards a peaceful, just and sustainable future. Through its activities, it aims to advance the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda.

The foundation encourages leaders to take their social and political responsibility to the next level: it INSPIRES leaders by providing them with a platform for personal and professional development, and CONNECTS them, across nations, regions and sectors, through its global Responsible Leaders Network. The third component of the foundation’s work is to INVEST in initiatives and organisations seeking to address the social, political and environmental challenges facing humanity.

The Eberhard von Kuenheim Foundation was founded in 2000 by BMW AG in honour of Eberhard von Kuenheim, its long-standing chairman of Board of Management and Supervisory Board. The Foundation’s mission is to promote entrepreneurial thinking and actions, outside the business context.

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