BMW 2003 Annual Report Download - page 20

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The net cash inflow in 2003 for funds offered
by BMW Bank amounted to euro 31.5 million, an
increase of 149.0%. At 31 December 2003, 13,829
customer securities deposit accounts were main-
tained, 85.1% more than one year earlier.
The geographical expansion of the Financial
Services segment was intensified in 2003. New
ventures, based on cooperation agreements, started
operations in Europe, Asia, South America and a
number of Arabic countries. As a result, the Financial
Services segment is now represented in 41 coun-
tries, either with its own financing companies or in
the form of cooperation arrangements.
In the area of fleet management (Alphabet), the
Financial Services segment has also successfully
participated in the growing market for fleet lease
services. 33,969 financing contracts were signed in
2003 with fleet customers, representing a 52.9%
growth over the previous year.
More than 3,000 new jobs created
At the end of 2003, the BMW Group had a world-
wide workforce of 104,342 employees, 2.9% more
than at the end of 2002. After adjusting for disposals
and transfers of group companies, the Group there-
fore created 3,131 new jobs.
Three quarters of the BMW Group employees
are based in Germany. The workforce here in-
creased to 78,569 employees (+3.2%). Since 2002,
more than 1,400 employees have been recruited
for the new BMW plant in Leipzig. At present, most
of these are working at other BMW locations and
preparing for their new tasks.
The BMW Group’s focused need for additional
trained staff will continue in 2004.
The number of apprentices working for the
BMW Group increased again. 4,306 young people
are currently learning a profession throughout the
Group, 2.5% more than at the previous year-end.
The apprentice ratio within the BMW Group (i.e. the
proportion of apprentices to the total workforce) is
4.1% worldwide and 5.1% in Germany. In addition,
the Group offers numerous starter programmes for
high-school leavers and university graduates.
The BMW Group offers a wide range of training
courses to improve the skills of its employees. Over-
all, the BMW Group invested more than euro 196
million in training in 2003. The highest proportion in
Financial Services segment reports worldwide
growth.
More than 1,400 employees already recruited for
the new BMW Leipzig plant.
BMW Group employees 31.12. 2003 31. 12. 2002 Change
in %
Automobiles1]95,913 93,216 2.9
Motorcycles 2,954 2,847 3.8
Financial Services2]2,476 2,196 12.8
Other 2,999 3,136 – 4.4
thereof
Software (1,045) (1,093) – 4.4
Corporate (64) (73) –12.3
Other UK companies (1,890) (1,970) – 4.1
BMW Group 104,342 101,395 2.9
adjusted for disposals and transfers of group companies 104,342 101,211 3.1
1]After adjusting for disposals and transfers of group companies and transfers within the group the headcount of the Automobiles segment as at 31.12.2002 was 92,909.
2]After adjusting for disposals and transfers of group companies and transfers within the group the headcount of the Financial Services segment as at 31.12.2002 was 2,319.