The manufacturer also launched new motorcycles that are still popular today.īy 1962, BMW had a complete lineup of compact sedans that helped the luxury automaker earn standing in the top brands. After this, the 1500 models were released. Herbert Quandt took some of the controlling interest in the company and oversaw the launch of the 700 Series. Better Times Aheadįrom here, things looked up for BMW. RELATED: Are BMWs Good Cars? Are They Reliable? 3. It became so hard for BMW that 1959 brought it to the edge of bankruptcy. When BMW first tried to create a smaller car, it faced a lot of competition from Volkswagen. In 1951, BMW released the 501 and the company expanded its lineup in 1955. Even still, it wasn’t a complete failure because the technology was needed to further build a strong reputation. This model was meant for the luxury market, but it didn’t sell well. Its first vehicle after the war was a six-passenger luxury saloon. BMW rebadged the Dixi and called it a BMW 3/15.īy 1951, BMW was ready to create an entire automobile. In 1928, the company started shifting operations to automobiles. The company also set a world speed record, which wasn’t broken until many years later, in 1937. The first motorcycle was built in 1923, known as the BMW R 32.
Once the war was over, BMW increased the production of motorcycle engines while also adding railway brakes, household items and farm equipment to its list of products. During these hard times, BMW started creating bicycles, pots and pans, which all helped to pay the bills. The factories were bombed heavily during the war, putting further hurting on the manufacturing operations. During this time, automobile manufacturing almost ceased completely. However, during the company’s years in business, aircraft manufacturing continued from 1917 through 1918 and then again during 1933 to 1945.Īt the time of the war, BMW focused heavily on aircraft engine production, but motorcycles were built on the side. Gustav Otto took over the small aircraft operations for the company.īMW’s official date of founding is March of 1916. That’s when Mazz Friz and Franz Josef Popp, two Austrians, took over the company. In 1916, Rapp left the company because it was in financial trouble.
It only lasted six years before it was officially renamed Bayerische Motoren Werke, what we now call BMW. The aircraft engine manufacturer was created more than a century ago.
What does this word mean? It shows that the incorporation is owned by the shareholders. In this designation, the AG stands for Aktiengesellschaft. The legal name of the automaker is BMW AG. This federal state is located in the southeastern region of Germany, on the border of the Czech Republic and Austria. Bayerische means Bavarian, which indicates where the company is headquartered in Bavaria. Karl Rapp resigned from the company in 1917 and the name was officially changed. Its headquarters were based in Munich, Germany. When the company was first founded, it was designed to build aircraft engines. It wasn’t until 1917 that the company name was changed to Bayerische Motoren Werke. The company was originally founded in 1913 by Karl Rapp, created as Rapp Motorenwerke. Bimmer or Beemer? What Does BMW Stand For?īMW stands for Bayerische Motoren Werke (German) or Bavarian Motor Works (English).
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