09/07/2025
The unknown facts about
Founding (1916)
BMW was founded on March 7, 1916, originally as a manufacturer of aircraft engines. The company was initially named Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW) before being renamed Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) in 1922.
2. Aircraft Engine Origins
BMW’s early success came from building high-performance aircraft engines. The iconic blue and white logo represents the spinning propeller of an aircraft against a blue sky and is inspired by the Bavarian flag.
3. Transition to Motorcycles (1923)
After the Treaty of Versailles restricted Germany's aircraft production post-World War I, BMW shifted to manufacturing motorcycles. The first motorcycle, the BMW R32, was launched in 1923 and featured a flat-twin boxer engine, a design still in use today.
4. Entry into Automobiles (1928)
BMW entered the automobile market by acquiring the Eisenach factory, which produced the small Dixi 3/15 car. This became BMW’s first car, later evolving into the BMW 3/20 model.
5. WWII and Post-War Challenges
During World War II, BMW focused on producing aircraft engines for the German military. After the war, the company was banned from manufacturing aircraft engines and faced financial difficulties, even contemplating merging with Mercedes-Benz in the 1950s.
6. BMW’s Comeback (1959)
BMW was saved from financial collapse by a group of investors led by Herbert Quandt, whose family still holds significant stakes in the company. This marked a turning point, leading to the development of the iconic BMW models.
7. Launch of the BMW 2002 (1968)
The BMW 2002, part of the Neue Klasse (New Class) series, was a revolutionary sports sedan that established BMW as a leader in producing high-performance, driver-oriented cars. It was a critical success in rebuilding the company’s reputation.
8. Motorsport Success
In the 1970s, BMW entered the world of motorsports with the formation of BMW M GmbH. The BMW M1 (1978) was the company's first supercar and marked the beginni
