BMW CEO Harald Krueger Collapses at Frankfurt Auto Show
BMW Chief Harald Krueger collapses during his first Frankfurt motor show.
— -- In a surprising moment at the Frankfurt International Motor Show today, BMW CEO Harald Krueger collapsed during a news conference while presenting the company's new cars.
Krueger, 49, appeared to be out of breath during the presentation in Germany, then fell on his back. After he got up, his staff helped him off the stage.
Krueger became CEO and board chairman of the luxury carmaker in May. It was the first time he was presenting at one of the largest auto shows in the world.
A spokesman for BMW told ABC News that Krueger had experienced a "dizzy spell" but he is now "fine and recuperating." Krueger has cancelled his upcoming appointments, the spokesman said, adding that the chief executive does not have a health issue that contributed to the incident. Another BMW spokesman told the Associated Press that Krueger recently had a heavy travel schedule.
BMW, based in Munich, Germany, is highlighting several cars at the auto show, including the new BMW 7 Series, the new M6 Coupe Competition Edition and M6 GT3, a racing car. Sales in Europe of BMW Group cars, which include Mini vehicles, have been brisk, rising 21.4 percent in August compared to the same month last year, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association.