KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 31): BMW plans to create up to 6,000 new jobs next year to prepare for growing demand for its electric vehicles (EVs).

Citing the German carmaker's chief executive officer Oliver Zipse as telling German daily Munchner Merkur, Detroit-based weekly Automotive News reported on Wednesday (Dec 29) that BMW is on a very good path through the transformation and had its plants prepared for e-mobility.

"That is why we will increase our workforce by up to 5% next year,” he said.

The report said BMW had so far sold more than one million electrified vehicles — including pure electric and hybrid vehicles — and plans to reach two million sales of pure EVs by 2025.

Zipse said given ongoing investments by semiconductor manufacturers, the semiconductor shortage should be over in a year.

"I expect that by the end of next year, we will see a largely normal situation," he said.

Zipse also said demand for EVs is very high.

"Our i4 is sold out for months. As is the iX."

The i4 is an electric compact executive car and the iX is an electric midsize luxury crossover.

Next year, BMW plans to introduce an electric version of its luxury 7 Series sedan.

"It won't be any different there," Zipse said.

The carmaker aims for at least 50% of global sales to be fully electric by 2030, but has warned that a lack of charging infrastructure is a major barrier to quicker consumer uptake of EVs.