Manager Magazin also said that Ilka Horstmeier was a favorite to head human resources, while Milan Nedeljkovic would take over as head of production.

BMW, which declined to comment, has been undergoing a shakeup of top managers.

In August, Oliver Zipse succeeded Harald Krueger to became chief executive officer, leaving vacant the production role he had overseen.

On Wednesday, BMW announced that Milagros Caiña Carreiro-Andree, the board member in charge of human resources, would not seek a new term, citing personal reasons.

(Reporting by Tom Sims; additional reporting by Joern Poltz; editing by Thomas Escritt and David Evans)