BMW is an abbreviation for Bavarian Motor Works, also known as Bayerische Motoren Werke AG in German. Karl Rapp, Gustav Otto, Camillo Castiglioni, and Franz Josef Popp established it in 1916.1)
BMW used to make aviation engines before it became known with high-end vehicles. These were sought after throughout World War I and World War II because to their high-altitude capability and fuel economy. Until 1945, BMW manufactured airplane engines. 2)
During the war, the firm was forced to diversify and investigate new revenue streams. As a result, BMW also manufactured railway brakes, pumps for agricultural machinery, and engines for buses and vehicles. 3)
BMW began producing automobiles as a result of the Treaty of Versailles. It forbade German manufacturers from producing airplanes or aircraft engines that may be used in a conflict. The Dixi, their first automobile, was produced in 1929. While it was their first vehicle, BMW did not create it; it was based on an English Austin and was sold in Japan as a Datsun and in the United States as a Bantum. 4)
The “Baroque Angel” (as BMW 501 and its descendant, BMW 502) was the first automobile built by BMW following World War II, and it debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1951. 5)
Contrary to common perception, BMW's logo was not created to depict a propeller; rather, the colors represented the hues of Bavaria, where the company's headquarters are situated. The black disc on the logo is a nod to Rapp Motorenwerke, BMW's founding business. 6)
BMW produced their first electric vehicle in 1972. While electric automobiles just recently became popular, the first electric car was built in 1828. BMW was ahead of its time when it released its first electric vehicle, the BMW 1602e, in 1972. 7)
BMW purchased the Rover Group in 1994, which controlled the rights to MINI and other automobile brands. In 1998, BMW acquired Rolls Royce, a premium automobile manufacturer. 8)
BMW's German headquarters was inspired by the company's famed four-cylinder engines. The BMW headquarters in Munich was erected between 1968 and 1972. Four vertical towers standing next to one other are hung on a central support tower designed by Austrian architect Karl Schwanzer. 9)
The BMW M1 was almost as fast as a Lamborghini. In the 1970s, BMW formed a partnership with the Italian automotive manufacturer Lamborghini to create a race car. Conflicts ensued, forcing BMW to finish the project on their own. The result is the BMW M-1, the world's first mass-produced mid-engined BMW. 10)
In 1959, when BMW was on the edge of bankruptcy, archrival Mercedes Benz sought a hostile acquisition. The effort was blocked by shareholder Herbert Quandt, who subsequently became BMW's CEO. 11)
The kidney-shaped grilles, which originally debuted on the BMW 303, are one among the traits that quickly identify a BMW. 12)
In 1937, BMW produced the world's fastest motorbike, capable of reaching speeds of up to 173.7 miles per hour. 13)
Pierce Brosnan (BMW i8), Charlie Sheen (BMW X5), Gigi Hadid (BMW M2 Competition Coupe), Reese Witherspoon (BMW Alpina B7), and Angelina Jolie all drive BMWs (BMW Series 7). 14)
BMW was able to streamline the rear end of the 328 Kamm Coupe in 1940, boosting straight-line performance by up to 30%. Other vehicle models with this design include the Prius and the Corvette. Today, every BMW vehicle is rigorously built to decrease drag, which contributes to increased fuel efficiency, less noise, and improved driving stability. 15)