BMW History

Check out some of the BMW history. It is quite fascinating.

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW), German manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles, and aircraft engines. Based in Munich, Germany, the company is the leading auto exporter in Europe. The English translation of the company's name is Bavarian Motor Works. The BMW emblem, symbolizing a rotating airplane propeller from BMW's early years as an aircraft engine manufacturer

By Decade:

1910-1919
In 1913, Karl Rapp began an aircraft-engine shop in Munich named Rapp Motoren Werke. In 1917 Rapp resigned and the company, led by Austrian engineer Franz-Josef Popp, changed its name to Bayerische Motoren Werke. That same year chief engineer Max Friz designed the company's first aircraft engine, the six-cylinder Type IIIa, which created strong demand for BMW engines. In 1919 BMW IV aircraft engine set the world altitude record at 32,013. However, the 1919 Treaty of Versailles prohibited German companies from producing aircraft and aircraft engines, BMW switched to making air brakes for railway cars.

1920-1929
In 1923. Friz developed the company's first motorcycle, the R32, a model that held world speed records for motorcycles during most of the 1930s. It was powered by a Boxer engine. In 1926 BMW licensed the British Austin Seven as its first automobile and called it the Dixi. Then in 1928, the company entered the automobile business by acquiring Fahrzeugwerke Eisenach (Eisenach Vehicle Factory), a maker of small cars based in Eisenach, Germany. In 1929, a BMW motorcycle broke the world speed record at 135 mph.

1930-1939
The first BMW-designed car appeared in 1932. It was called the BMW AM1. Then in 1933, BMW launched the 303, which was the first to display the classic kidney grille. The BMW 328 sports car first arrived in 1936, and then 1938 it went on the win the Mille Miglia.

1940-1949
After World War II, in 1945, the Allied forces dismantled the company's main factories. BMW made kitchen and garden equipment. In 1948, reentered the automobile business with the 501.

1950-1959
BMW won the World Championship for Sidecar Motorcycles in 1954. Then in 1955, the Isetta "Bubblecar" was introduced. BMW followed that by introducing two sportscars, the 503 and 507. However, the company's return to auto production in the 1950s resulted in poor sales.

1960-1969
During the 1960s, the company turned around by focusing on sports sedans and compact touring cars. Its then that it began to compete with Mercedes-Benz in the luxury-car markets of Europe and the United States. In 1962, BMW introduced the 1500, a sporty, compact touring car, which was the predecessor of the 2000 Series. In 1967 BMW took over Hans Glas GmbH in Dingolfing.

1970-1979
In the 1972, BMW launched the first 5 Series. In 1975, it launched the 3 Series, followed by 6 Series coupe in 1976 and 7 Series in 1977.

1980-1989
In 1986, BMW's U.S. sales peaked , but then dropped steeply, partly due to competition from two new luxury cars-Lexus, made by Toyota Motor Corporation, and Infiniti, made by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. In 1987, the BMW M3 won the its first and only World Touring Car Championship. The Z1 was introduced in 1988.

1990-1999
The first Z3 Roadster was built in South Carolina in 1995 and by 1997 the Z3 had reached the 100,000 milestone. In 1998, BMW announced the building of the X5 SAV (Sports Activity Vehicle. BMW formed a joint venture with the British aerospace company Rolls-Royce PLC to produce aircraft engines for business jets in 1990. In 1992, BMW outsold Mercedes-Benz in Europe for the first time.. In 1992 BMW broke ground for a major automobile plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, its first automobile plant in the United States. In 1994 BMW acquired 80 percent of the Rover Group-a British manufacturer of small cars, luxury cars, and Land Rover sport-utility vehicles-from British Aerospace PLC. The $1.2 billion acquisition brought the company into new markets.

2000-Present
The last Z3 was built in 2002, which was followed by the evolution to the Z4 in 2003. By 2005, the Z4 had reached 100,000.

This is an independent website and is in no way related to, or supported by BMW AG or its subsidiaries. The name BMW and all of the names of vehicles manufactured by BMW are registered trademarks of BMW. Any reference to these names in this website are for descriptive purposes only and are in no way to be confused with BMW's own online efforts.