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The Advertiser
42 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
BMW and Mercedes-Benz get new bosses in Australia as sales race remains tight
Arch-rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz have a close competition going on – just six deliveries separate them in this year's sales race – but unusually both brands have simultaneously announced local leadership changes. In press releases both dated July 14, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have confirmed new Australian bosses. Vikram Pawah is returning to the position of CEO of BMW Group Australia from September 1, 2025, having previously held the role between 2018 and 2020 and more recently served as head of BMW Group India – where, BMW notes, he presided over "consistent year-on-year [sales] increases". He takes over from Wolfgang Buechel, who has been promoted to vice president and head of Mini Global Sales, where he'll be responsible for developing and executing Mini's global sales strategy. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. ABOVE: Vikram Pawah (left) and Wolfgang Buechel (right) Mr Buechel served as BMW Group Australia CEO for five years, and leaves after leading BMW to reclaim its position, after 11 years, as the leading premium automotive brand in Australia in 2023. It remained ahead of Mercedes-Benz in 2024 – 26,341 versus 24,831 deliveries, the latter including the three-pointed star brand's van division – and sits ahead of it so far this year. It's a tighter race this year, with BMW sitting at 13,712 deliveries against 13,706 for Mercedes-Benz. At the same time, the CEO and managing director of Mercedes-Benz Australia-Pacific, Jamie Cohen, is stepping down from his role after just over a year. ABOVE: Homero Becerra Gonzalez (left) and Jaime Cohen (right) He's being succeeded by Homero Becerra Gonzalez, who assumes the role on November 1, 2025. Mr Cohen will work closely with Mr Becerra Gonzalez before departing the company on December 31, 2025. Mr Becerra Gonzalez has an extensive background in finance, having headed up Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Iberia since earlier this year, serving in this role while simultaneously being managing director of Mercedes-Benz fleet and mobility subsidiary Athlon Iberia since 2021. He also has previously served as the head of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services in Italy. He takes over from Mr Cohen, who joined the Australia/Pacific division in April 2024, following a five-year tenure as the CEO and managing director of Mercedes-Benz Mexico. The outgoing local boss has more than 35 years of experience within the Mercedes-Benz Group. "Under his leadership, Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific achieved sustained sales and market share growth in a challenging and dynamic geopolitical environment, including a steady rise in the share of electric vehicle deliveries," the company said in its release announcing the change. Mr Cohen joined after Mercedes-Benz moved to an agency sales model in Australia for its Cars division, which resulted in a sales downturn. The agency move saw Mercedes-Benz take ownership of dealership stock, and remove the ability for customers and dealership staff to negotiate on prices – a change that saw dealers sue the brand over what it called inadequate compensation. The Federal Court ruled against the dealers, and this month dismissed an appeal made against its ruling. Deliveries of vehicles from Mercedes-Benz Cars fell from 28,348 in 2021 to 26,801 in 2022, before dropping again in 2023 to 24,315, and then 19,989 in 2024. But there's light at the end of the tunnel, it would appear, with deliveries in the first half of 2025 up 15.9 per cent on the same period last year to 11,146 in total – Mercedes-Benz's best first-half of a year since 2023. BMW is well ahead of Mercedes-Benz in terms of electric vehicles (EVs), however. To the end of June, BMW has delivered 3090 EVs so far this year, while Mercedes-Benz has delivered 1581 – a figure that also includes EVs from its Mercedes-Benz Vans division. Content originally sourced from: Arch-rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz have a close competition going on – just six deliveries separate them in this year's sales race – but unusually both brands have simultaneously announced local leadership changes. In press releases both dated July 14, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have confirmed new Australian bosses. Vikram Pawah is returning to the position of CEO of BMW Group Australia from September 1, 2025, having previously held the role between 2018 and 2020 and more recently served as head of BMW Group India – where, BMW notes, he presided over "consistent year-on-year [sales] increases". He takes over from Wolfgang Buechel, who has been promoted to vice president and head of Mini Global Sales, where he'll be responsible for developing and executing Mini's global sales strategy. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. ABOVE: Vikram Pawah (left) and Wolfgang Buechel (right) Mr Buechel served as BMW Group Australia CEO for five years, and leaves after leading BMW to reclaim its position, after 11 years, as the leading premium automotive brand in Australia in 2023. It remained ahead of Mercedes-Benz in 2024 – 26,341 versus 24,831 deliveries, the latter including the three-pointed star brand's van division – and sits ahead of it so far this year. It's a tighter race this year, with BMW sitting at 13,712 deliveries against 13,706 for Mercedes-Benz. At the same time, the CEO and managing director of Mercedes-Benz Australia-Pacific, Jamie Cohen, is stepping down from his role after just over a year. ABOVE: Homero Becerra Gonzalez (left) and Jaime Cohen (right) He's being succeeded by Homero Becerra Gonzalez, who assumes the role on November 1, 2025. Mr Cohen will work closely with Mr Becerra Gonzalez before departing the company on December 31, 2025. Mr Becerra Gonzalez has an extensive background in finance, having headed up Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Iberia since earlier this year, serving in this role while simultaneously being managing director of Mercedes-Benz fleet and mobility subsidiary Athlon Iberia since 2021. He also has previously served as the head of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services in Italy. He takes over from Mr Cohen, who joined the Australia/Pacific division in April 2024, following a five-year tenure as the CEO and managing director of Mercedes-Benz Mexico. The outgoing local boss has more than 35 years of experience within the Mercedes-Benz Group. "Under his leadership, Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific achieved sustained sales and market share growth in a challenging and dynamic geopolitical environment, including a steady rise in the share of electric vehicle deliveries," the company said in its release announcing the change. Mr Cohen joined after Mercedes-Benz moved to an agency sales model in Australia for its Cars division, which resulted in a sales downturn. The agency move saw Mercedes-Benz take ownership of dealership stock, and remove the ability for customers and dealership staff to negotiate on prices – a change that saw dealers sue the brand over what it called inadequate compensation. The Federal Court ruled against the dealers, and this month dismissed an appeal made against its ruling. Deliveries of vehicles from Mercedes-Benz Cars fell from 28,348 in 2021 to 26,801 in 2022, before dropping again in 2023 to 24,315, and then 19,989 in 2024. But there's light at the end of the tunnel, it would appear, with deliveries in the first half of 2025 up 15.9 per cent on the same period last year to 11,146 in total – Mercedes-Benz's best first-half of a year since 2023. BMW is well ahead of Mercedes-Benz in terms of electric vehicles (EVs), however. To the end of June, BMW has delivered 3090 EVs so far this year, while Mercedes-Benz has delivered 1581 – a figure that also includes EVs from its Mercedes-Benz Vans division. Content originally sourced from: Arch-rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz have a close competition going on – just six deliveries separate them in this year's sales race – but unusually both brands have simultaneously announced local leadership changes. In press releases both dated July 14, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have confirmed new Australian bosses. Vikram Pawah is returning to the position of CEO of BMW Group Australia from September 1, 2025, having previously held the role between 2018 and 2020 and more recently served as head of BMW Group India – where, BMW notes, he presided over "consistent year-on-year [sales] increases". He takes over from Wolfgang Buechel, who has been promoted to vice president and head of Mini Global Sales, where he'll be responsible for developing and executing Mini's global sales strategy. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. ABOVE: Vikram Pawah (left) and Wolfgang Buechel (right) Mr Buechel served as BMW Group Australia CEO for five years, and leaves after leading BMW to reclaim its position, after 11 years, as the leading premium automotive brand in Australia in 2023. It remained ahead of Mercedes-Benz in 2024 – 26,341 versus 24,831 deliveries, the latter including the three-pointed star brand's van division – and sits ahead of it so far this year. It's a tighter race this year, with BMW sitting at 13,712 deliveries against 13,706 for Mercedes-Benz. At the same time, the CEO and managing director of Mercedes-Benz Australia-Pacific, Jamie Cohen, is stepping down from his role after just over a year. ABOVE: Homero Becerra Gonzalez (left) and Jaime Cohen (right) He's being succeeded by Homero Becerra Gonzalez, who assumes the role on November 1, 2025. Mr Cohen will work closely with Mr Becerra Gonzalez before departing the company on December 31, 2025. Mr Becerra Gonzalez has an extensive background in finance, having headed up Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Iberia since earlier this year, serving in this role while simultaneously being managing director of Mercedes-Benz fleet and mobility subsidiary Athlon Iberia since 2021. He also has previously served as the head of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services in Italy. He takes over from Mr Cohen, who joined the Australia/Pacific division in April 2024, following a five-year tenure as the CEO and managing director of Mercedes-Benz Mexico. The outgoing local boss has more than 35 years of experience within the Mercedes-Benz Group. "Under his leadership, Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific achieved sustained sales and market share growth in a challenging and dynamic geopolitical environment, including a steady rise in the share of electric vehicle deliveries," the company said in its release announcing the change. Mr Cohen joined after Mercedes-Benz moved to an agency sales model in Australia for its Cars division, which resulted in a sales downturn. The agency move saw Mercedes-Benz take ownership of dealership stock, and remove the ability for customers and dealership staff to negotiate on prices – a change that saw dealers sue the brand over what it called inadequate compensation. The Federal Court ruled against the dealers, and this month dismissed an appeal made against its ruling. Deliveries of vehicles from Mercedes-Benz Cars fell from 28,348 in 2021 to 26,801 in 2022, before dropping again in 2023 to 24,315, and then 19,989 in 2024. But there's light at the end of the tunnel, it would appear, with deliveries in the first half of 2025 up 15.9 per cent on the same period last year to 11,146 in total – Mercedes-Benz's best first-half of a year since 2023. BMW is well ahead of Mercedes-Benz in terms of electric vehicles (EVs), however. To the end of June, BMW has delivered 3090 EVs so far this year, while Mercedes-Benz has delivered 1581 – a figure that also includes EVs from its Mercedes-Benz Vans division. Content originally sourced from: Arch-rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz have a close competition going on – just six deliveries separate them in this year's sales race – but unusually both brands have simultaneously announced local leadership changes. In press releases both dated July 14, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have confirmed new Australian bosses. Vikram Pawah is returning to the position of CEO of BMW Group Australia from September 1, 2025, having previously held the role between 2018 and 2020 and more recently served as head of BMW Group India – where, BMW notes, he presided over "consistent year-on-year [sales] increases". He takes over from Wolfgang Buechel, who has been promoted to vice president and head of Mini Global Sales, where he'll be responsible for developing and executing Mini's global sales strategy. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. ABOVE: Vikram Pawah (left) and Wolfgang Buechel (right) Mr Buechel served as BMW Group Australia CEO for five years, and leaves after leading BMW to reclaim its position, after 11 years, as the leading premium automotive brand in Australia in 2023. It remained ahead of Mercedes-Benz in 2024 – 26,341 versus 24,831 deliveries, the latter including the three-pointed star brand's van division – and sits ahead of it so far this year. It's a tighter race this year, with BMW sitting at 13,712 deliveries against 13,706 for Mercedes-Benz. At the same time, the CEO and managing director of Mercedes-Benz Australia-Pacific, Jamie Cohen, is stepping down from his role after just over a year. ABOVE: Homero Becerra Gonzalez (left) and Jaime Cohen (right) He's being succeeded by Homero Becerra Gonzalez, who assumes the role on November 1, 2025. Mr Cohen will work closely with Mr Becerra Gonzalez before departing the company on December 31, 2025. Mr Becerra Gonzalez has an extensive background in finance, having headed up Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Iberia since earlier this year, serving in this role while simultaneously being managing director of Mercedes-Benz fleet and mobility subsidiary Athlon Iberia since 2021. He also has previously served as the head of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services in Italy. He takes over from Mr Cohen, who joined the Australia/Pacific division in April 2024, following a five-year tenure as the CEO and managing director of Mercedes-Benz Mexico. The outgoing local boss has more than 35 years of experience within the Mercedes-Benz Group. "Under his leadership, Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific achieved sustained sales and market share growth in a challenging and dynamic geopolitical environment, including a steady rise in the share of electric vehicle deliveries," the company said in its release announcing the change. Mr Cohen joined after Mercedes-Benz moved to an agency sales model in Australia for its Cars division, which resulted in a sales downturn. The agency move saw Mercedes-Benz take ownership of dealership stock, and remove the ability for customers and dealership staff to negotiate on prices – a change that saw dealers sue the brand over what it called inadequate compensation. The Federal Court ruled against the dealers, and this month dismissed an appeal made against its ruling. Deliveries of vehicles from Mercedes-Benz Cars fell from 28,348 in 2021 to 26,801 in 2022, before dropping again in 2023 to 24,315, and then 19,989 in 2024. But there's light at the end of the tunnel, it would appear, with deliveries in the first half of 2025 up 15.9 per cent on the same period last year to 11,146 in total – Mercedes-Benz's best first-half of a year since 2023. BMW is well ahead of Mercedes-Benz in terms of electric vehicles (EVs), however. To the end of June, BMW has delivered 3090 EVs so far this year, while Mercedes-Benz has delivered 1581 – a figure that also includes EVs from its Mercedes-Benz Vans division. Content originally sourced from:
West Australian
an hour ago
- West Australian
Tax reform: Commonwealth Bank says Australia must stop relying so heavily on income tax
The nation's biggest bank says Australia must break its addiction to taxing income and rein in 'unsustainable' government spending growth. The Commonwealth Bank warned that future generations would be left to pick up the bills as the country ages — unless the system is fixed — in a submission to a Productivity Commission reform inquiry. It comes amid growing debate about how to revitalise the country's economy ahead of a summit planned by Treasurer Jim Chalmers next month. Taxes have surged to be almost 30 per cent of the national economy thanks to booming company payments and ongoing bracket creep, where inflation pushes workers into higher-paying brackets. 'It will not be sustainable for the tax receipts from a proportionately smaller workforce to pay for the level of public services Australians demand, particularly as the population ages,' the $299 billion company said. 'Similarly, simply running structural budget deficits only passes the problem to future generations. 'Australia needs to find a way to lower its dependence on income taxes.' While the big four bank stopped short of recommending changes to the GST, the submission said there should be debate about 'appropriate levels and role' for taxes on consumption and wealth. But the bank did say that uncapped concessions for superannuation were unsustainable. Company tax cuts would not be a priority, the submission said, while cracking down on multinational tax avoidance should remain on the agenda. It pointed to research showing that about 80 per cent of household income growth over the past 30 years came from improved productivity — doing things smarter and better. The Master Builders Association wants the company tax rate cut from 25 to 20 per cent for small businesses and urged governments to help keep inflation under control. 'Company tax settings need to be competitive to support economic growth,' the lobby group said in its submission. 'The proposal would provide instant respite to Australian small businesses and let them focus on what they do best. 'Investment growth has been lacklustre in Australia, leading to reduced competition,higher prices and lower living standards.'
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Why Twiggy's happy to cut the oranges for Team Australia
Shanghai: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese couldn't help but smirk when Andrew Forrest deployed his trademark humour at a press conference in Shanghai on Tuesday. 'Look, I just speak today as a passionate Australian person who's always been happy to cut the oranges out for our country, anytime,' the West Australian billionaire said. The man known as 'Twiggy', a mining tycoon turned climate saviour, had moments earlier been lavishing praise on the prime minister. Albanese was a busy man, Forrest remarked, and busy people were the best people to handle a tough job. The task on Forrest's mind? 'I asked our prime minister if he could work together with China to form a bilateral agreement where we escape the threats coming from AI [artificial intelligence] to employment, both in China and Australia,' Forrest said. A big ask in anyone's book. And the purpose of this request? '[To] generate a serious jobs boom in both China for green steel and particularly for Australia in green iron ore,' Forrest said. 'We forecast hundreds of thousands of new jobs ... Chasing that tail is incredibly important for all peoples, and for all peoples' children.' The link between artificial intelligence and green steel may need some clarification. But what is clear is Forrest's drive to build his company, Fortescue, and through that to drive change for a greener economy.
