BMW is deploying state-of-the-art humanoid robots in its South Carolina plant, but investors are paying little attention. The automaker’s shares tumbled to a fresh 52-week low on Monday, underscoring the deep-seated concerns that continue to plague the European auto sector. The stock hit an intraday low of €57.70 before settling at €57.88, extending a decline that has erased nearly 40% of its value since the start of the year.
The rout traces back to a mid-June warning from management, which slashed its full-year outlook as the Chinese market cools sharply. Demand for combustion-engine models in particular has weakened in Asia, and while Europe and the US are performing better, the gap is too wide to close. BMW now expects to deliver fewer vehicles in 2025, with the operating margin in its automotive division shrinking to just 1% to 3% — roughly half the previous target. The group also forecasts a steep drop in pretax profit.
Technical indicators underscore the severity of the sell-off. The relative strength index has dropped to 19.3–19.4, a zone that typically signals a stock is extremely oversold. The shares, hovering near €58.00, are now trading more than 20% below their 50-day moving average and a staggering 30% beneath the 200-day line, which sits at €83.13.
Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying BMW?
Despite the gloom, BMW is maintaining its commitment to shareholders. Free cash flow is expected to exceed €2.5 billion this year, allowing the company to keep its payout policy intact: investors will continue to receive 30% to 40% of net profit as dividends. The share buyback programme also remains active; as of the end of June, the group had repurchased over six million of its own shares.
Meanwhile, on the factory floor, the push toward efficiency continues. At the Spartanburg plant, BMW has begun using the “Figure 03” humanoid robot. Standing 1.73 metres tall and weighing 61 kilograms, the machine sorts components in production logistics with the help of improved hand sensors and a softer outer shell. It can communicate via voice and runs on a wireless charging system with a five-hour battery. The company is also rolling out digital twins and AI-driven quality control. The broader automotive industry expects such robots to see wide-scale deployment around 2028, as they promise to cut process costs and fill gaps left by skilled labour shortages.
Analysts at Jefferies argue the current sell-off is overdone. They note that while rivals such as Mercedes-Benz saw profit halve last year, BMW’s own operational adjustments and cost-saving measures are not yet reflected in the stock price. The market will get a chance to reassess on July 10, when management holds its official second-quarter earnings call. There, executives will need to convince investors that the margin floor has truly been reached.
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