New York, NY - February 26, 2026: The WORLD CAR AWARDS has announced that OLIVER ZIPSE, Chairman of the Board of Management, BMW AG, has been named 2026 WORLD CAR PERSON OF THE YEAR. 

The Person of the Year award is one of seven honors presented each year as part of the World Car Awards. In addition to Person of the Year, the awards program recognizes excellence across six key categories: World Car of the Year, World Electric Vehicle of the Year, World Luxury Car of the Year, World Performance Car of the Year, World Urban Car of the Year, and World Car Design of the Year.  

The winners will be announced at the World Car of the Year Award ceremony at the New York International Automobile Show on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. The occasion will mark a 21-year partnership with the New York Auto Show, co-hosting the winners’ announcement as a special kick-off to the Show’s Press Preview Days. 

Oliver Zipse has led BMW AG as Chairman of the Board of Management since August 2019, guiding one of the world’s most respected premium automotive groups through a period of profound technological and strategic transformation. Zipse joined BMW in 1991 and has spent his entire professional career within the company, gaining deep operational experience across development, production, and corporate strategy. His tenure at the top will shortly be drawing to a close, but he will leave having overseen the launch of the BMW Neue Klasse range of vehicles, marking the biggest technical transformation of the brand in its history.

With an academic background spanning computer science, mathematics, and mechanical engineering, Zipse is known for combining engineering rigour with long-term strategic thinking. Before becoming Chairman, he held senior leadership roles, including Head of Production and Managing Director of BMW’s Oxford plant in the UK. Under his leadership, BMW has pursued a technology-open approach to electrification, digitalisation, and sustainability, while maintaining a strong focus on brand identity and profitability. Zipse’s steady, engineering-led leadership has helped shape BMW’s direction in a rapidly evolving global automotive landscape.
 
Commenting on being named 2026 World Car Person of the Year, Oliver Zipse said, “I am honored to be named World Car Person of the Year 2026. To me, this is much more than just an award for my tenure as BMW’s CEO: it is a recognition of our strategic course and the courage we have shown to pursue the company’s biggest project ever, the Neue Klasse. And, most importantly, it is an award for all BMW employees. Therefore, I would like to thank all our associates for their dedication, their passion, and their pioneering spirit. The Neue Klasse is a prime example of the remarkable achievements that can be made possible by this collective effort.”

Jens Meiners, World Car Awards Chair Emeritus, said, “Oliver Zipse has had a remarkable career at BMW, steering the business through the most turbulent of times to become the strong, forward-thinking, financially secure company we see today. His strategy of ‘technology openness’ and of pursuing excellence with all kinds of powertrains has been fully validated by the market. The current BMW Group product line-up is just about the best it has ever been, and BMW continues to be the brand that other carmakers look up to. Much of that is down to Oliver Zipse’s leadership, and therefore we are delighted to announce him as the 2026 World Car Person of the Year.”

The World Car Awards program would not be possible without the support of our official Partners: AITASTIC Research & Consult, BREMBO, the NEW YORK International Auto Show, KPMG, and Newspress.

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For additional information, please visit worldcarawards.com or contact them at: info@worldcarawards.com

 ABOUT THE NEW YORK AUTO SHOW 

Since 1900, New York has been the staging location of North America's oldest and largest-attended auto show. For over 126 years, the New York International Auto Show has continued to be the best place to experience and learn about new products the auto industry offers. Each year, the show provides the largest display of cars and trucks in one location to millions of car buyers in a unique experience. No other venue offers this kind of comprehensive and engaging forum, where new technology and designs can be viewed, explored, and enjoyed.

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