bmw

A brief history about bmw: Contrary to popular belief, BMW does not stand for “Best Motors in the World.” While its cars are often regarded as some of the finest examples of engineering precision, the name comes from Bayerische Motoren Werke — Bavarian Motor Works. From its earliest days, BMW’s success has rested not on luck or imitation but on relentless attention to quality and the pursuit of mechanical excellence. Rather than focusing on the car as a whole, the company began with its heart — the engine — refining it through decades of innovation and craftsmanship.

Karl Friedrich Rapp founded the company in 1913 under the name Rapp-Motorenwerke, producing aircraft engines to meet the demand created by the onset of World War I. Early designs struggled with vibration and reliability, yet Rapp’s neighbor, Gustav Otto, enjoyed greater success. Financial pressure forced Rapp to resign in 1916, paving the way for new leadership. Under Franz-Josef Popp and financier Camillo Castiglioni, Rapp’s plant merged with Otto’s to form Bayerische Flugzeug-Werke — the foundation that would soon evolve into BMW.

By the early 1920s, BMW’s aircraft engines had gained international recognition. The improved Type IIIA engine powered a biplane to a record 16,404 feet in just 29 minutes, earning global acclaim. Around this time, BMW adopted its now-iconic logo, symbolizing a white propeller against a blue sky. But success was interrupted when the Treaty of Versailles banned Germany from producing aircraft engines, forcing BMW to shift toward building railway brakes and later motorcycle engines.

Between 1920 and 1922, BMW released its first motorcycles, the Victoria and the Flink. Soon, the company opened its first factory and began establishing its reputation for precision engineering. By 1927, BMW held more than one-third of all aviation records worldwide. The following year, the company entered the automobile industry with the Dixi 3/15, built under license from Austin.

BMW’s reputation for speed and performance grew rapidly. In 1929, racer Ernst Henne set a world motorcycle speed record at 134.65 mph. The company introduced its first independently designed car in 1932, the 3/20 PS, followed by the 303 in 1933 — the first BMW to feature a six-cylinder engine, a hallmark of the brand. The 328 roadster, launched in 1936, brought BMW multiple racing victories and became one of the most admired sports cars of its era.

As World War II approached, BMW expanded its factories and resumed producing military engines and equipment. The R57 motorcycle and 109-300 jet engine — one of the first mass-produced jets — stood as symbols of the company’s engineering prowess. After the war, Allied bombings left BMW’s Munich plant in ruins, and production was temporarily repurposed for repairing military vehicles. When the U.S. Army ordered the dismantling of BMW’s plants, the company faced years of silence before rebuilding.

BMW’s postwar return began modestly, producing bicycles and later motorcycles such as the R68 in the early 1950s. The brand gained renewed prestige with the release of the Isetta microcar in 1955 — a symbol of economic recovery and ingenuity that sold more than 160,000 units. Throughout the 1950s, models like the 507 and 600 solidified BMW’s reputation for combining elegance and performance.

The 1960s marked BMW’s transformation into a global powerhouse. The 1500 and 1600 series laid the foundation for the “New Class” sedans that redefined modern automotive design. Success in motorsport followed, with drivers like Dieter Quester earning multiple European touring titles. The 1970s brought innovation with the 2002 Turbo — one of the first turbocharged production cars — and the debut of the 6 and 7 Series, expanding BMW’s luxury and performance lineup.

By the 1980s, BMW had established itself as a symbol of engineering excellence. The brand entered Formula One and claimed its first championship in 1983 with Nelson Piquet behind the wheel. The legendary M Division brought forth the M5 and M3, cementing BMW’s dominance in performance engineering. Global expansion followed, including a major manufacturing plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

The 1990s and 2000s saw BMW embrace new technologies and design philosophies. Models like the Z8 paid tribute to classic roadsters, while the brand continued to dominate motorsport with victories in FIA championships. Innovation, craftsmanship, and driving emotion became inseparable from the BMW name — a legacy that continues to define the brand’s presence in the modern automotive world.

Current Models

Browse through this bmw’s current models below and explore their specifications