24/05/2025
Ten unknown facts about
1. BMW Started with Aircraft Engines: BMW was originally an aircraft engine manufacturer in 1916. The iconic blue and white logo represents a spinning propeller against the sky.
2. BMW Once Made Farm Equipment: After World War I, due to restrictions on aircraft production, BMW shifted to making things like railway brakes and farm equipment.
3. BMW Made Its First Car Using Austin Technology: The first car BMW produced in 1929 was the BMW 3/15, based on the Austin 7, a British design.
4. BMW Owns Rolls-Royce (Sort of): BMW owns the rights to produce Rolls-Royce cars since 1998. Interestingly, Volkswagen owns the rights to the Rolls-Royce name in aviation.
5. M Division Was Created for Racing: BMW’s high-performance M division was originally established to support the company’s racing program in the 1970s.
6. They Also Made Motorcycles First: Before cars, BMW began producing motorcycles in 1923 with the BMW R32, which featured innovations still used today.
7. They Built the World’s Fastest Motorcycle in the 1930s: The BMW WR 750, built in 1937, set a world speed record of 173.7 mph (279.5 km/h).
8. BMW Saved Lamborghini’s Supercar Future: In the 1970s, BMW helped develop the Lamborghini Miura's successor, the BMW M1—after Lamborghini ran into financial trouble.
9. BMW Nearly Merged with Mercedes: In the 1950s, BMW faced financial difficulties and came close to being acquired by Daimler-Benz (Mercedes-Benz), but was saved by investors and the success of the BMW 700.
10. BMW Built an Electric Car in 1972: Long before the i3 and i8, BMW experimented with electric vehicles. The 1602e, based on the 1602 sedan, debuted at the 1972 Olympics in Munich.