Munich. Alexander Buckan will take over from Edgar
Heinrich as the new head of BMW Motorrad Design, effective 1 January
2024. Buckan will be responsible for the design of all BMW Group
two-wheeled vehicles, rider’s equipment and accessories. Edgar
Heinrich, who has been BMW Motorrad’s head of Design since 2012, is
retiring after 35 years at the BMW Group.
“We are delighted to be able to present our experienced colleague and
motorcycle enthusiast Alexander Buckan as the new head of BMW Motorrad
Design,” declared Dr Markus Schramm, head of BMW Motorrad. “Alexander
has already contributed a great deal to our motorcycle design as the
manager of our design team – making him the ideal choice to lead and
bring new impetus to BMW Motorrad Design,” added Adrian van Hooydonk,
head of BMW Group Design.
Long-serving employee and motorcycle enthusiast Alexander
Buckan takes the helm of design team.
Buckan began his career at BMW Motorrad as a transportation
designer back in 2003. Since then, he has been responsible for a
variety of different models, including the BMW F 800 GS, BMW G 450 X,
BMW R 1200 GS LC and BMW R 1200 GS Adventure LC.
In April 2015, Buckan was promoted to head of BMW Motorrad Vehicle
Design. As design manager, he worked with Edgar Heinrich on the design
of the BMW Motorrad VISION NEXT 100. The design of the BMW CE 04 and
BMW CE 02 e-scooters was also Buckan’s responsibility, as well as the
design of the new BMW R 1300 GS, which will celebrate its world
premiere on 28 September 2023 at BMW Motorrad Welt in Berlin.
Edgar Heinrich: 35 years of passion for BMW
Motorrad.
“We would like to thank Edgar Heinrich for his
many years of outstanding service,” said Markus Schramm. “His
enthusiasm for riding pleasure on two wheels has inspired countless
fans around the world.”
Adrian van Hooydonk: “With his creativity and passion for BMW
Motorrad, Edgar Heinrich has shaped the brand like no one else. Under
his leadership, BMW Motorrad design has been significantly broadened,
modernised and, above all, made more emotional.”
Edgar Heinrich began his career at BMW Motorrad in 1985 and was
elevated to senior designer in 1992. In 2005, he was appointed head of
BMW Motorrad Vehicle Design and, seven years later, assumed overall
responsibility as head of BMW Motorrad Design. During this time,
Heinrich shaped the brand’s design language and developed motorcycles
that set the benchmark for their segments. Models like the
BMW R 1100 S sports boxer, the BMW K 1200 R naked bike and the touring
enduro icon, the BMW R 1200 GS, were all created under his leadership.
Heinrich was also involved in developing HP models, rally motorcycles,
electric scooters and the ground-breaking BMW Motorrad VISION NEXT 100
design concept.
