BMW facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG

Corporate wordmark since 2021
BMW Headquarters in Munich, Germany
Formerly	Rapp Moterenwerke AG
Type	Public (Aktiengesellschaft)
Traded as	FWB: BMW DAX component
Industry	Automotive
Predecessors	Otto Flugmaschinenfabrik Rapp Motorenwerke Fahrzeugfabrik Eisenach
Founded	27 October 1913; 111 years ago (1913-10-27) (as Rapp Motorenwerke)
Founder	Karl Rapp
Headquarters	Munich , Germany
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Oliver Zipse (Chairman of the Board of Management) Norbert Reithofer (Chairman of the Board of Supervisory)
Products	Cars Motorcycles
Brands	Automobiles Alpina BMW BMW i BMW M BMW X BMW Z DriveNow Mini Rolls-Royce Motorcycles BMW Motorrad
Production output	2,382,305 cars (2022) 215,932 motorcycles (2022)
Services	Car-sharing services, financing, leasing, insurance and other financial services
Revenue	€142.610 billion (2022)
Operating income	€23.509 billion (2022)
Net income	€18.582 billion (2022)
Total assets	€246.926 billion (2022)
Total equity	€91.288 billion (2022)
Owners	Public (50.7%) Stefan Quandt (25.8%, 25.6% through holdings and 0.19% directly) Susanne Klatten (20.9%, 20.7% through holdings and 0.2% directly)
Number of employees	149,475 (2022)

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, known as BMW, is a famous German company. It makes awesome luxury vehicles and motorcycles. BMW's main office is in Munich, Germany.

The company started in 1916. Back then, it made aircraft engines. They produced these engines from 1917 to 1918 and again from 1933 to 1945.

Today, BMW sells cars under the BMW, Mini, and Rolls-Royce brands. Their motorcycles are sold under the BMW Motorrad brand. In 2017, BMW was one of the world's biggest car makers. They produced over 2.2 million vehicles. BMW also has a rich history in motor sport, especially in touring cars and sports cars.

BMW has its main office in Munich. They build vehicles in many countries. These include Germany, Brazil, China, India, Mexico, the UK, and the USA. The Quandt family has been a major owner of the company for a long time. Their investments helped save BMW from bankruptcy in 1959.

History of BMW

The company's story began in 1910 with Otto Flugmaschinenfabrik. This company was later renamed Bayerische Flugzeugwerke AG in 1916. In 1922, it became Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW). However, the name BMW actually goes back to 1913. That's when Karl Rapp founded a company called Rapp Motorenwerke. BMW took over Rapp Motorenwerke's engine business in 1922.

BMW's very first product was an engine for fighter planes. It was a powerful straight-six aircraft engine. This engine, called the BMW IIIa, was designed in 1917. After World War I, BMW kept going by making motorcycle engines. They also made things like farm equipment and railway brakes. In 1923, BMW made its first motorcycle, the BMW R 32.

BMW started making cars in 1928. They bought a company called Fahrzeugfabrik Eisenach. This company was building the Austin 7 car under a special agreement. The first car sold as a BMW was the BMW 3/15. In the 1930s, BMW started making sports cars and bigger luxury cars.

During World War II, BMW focused on making aircraft engines. Car production stopped completely. After the war, BMW's factories were badly damaged. They were also not allowed to make cars or aircraft. So, BMW survived by making things like pots, pans, and bicycles. In 1948, they started making motorcycles again. Car production began again in 1952 with the BMW 501 luxury car. They also made the smaller, cheaper Isetta microcar from 1955.

BMW faced money problems in 1959. But a big investment from the Quandt family helped the company survive. The success of the small BMW 700 car also helped BMW recover. This allowed them to create new, popular sedans.

In 1962, BMW launched the BMW New Class sedans. These cars helped BMW become known for making sporty cars. Throughout the 1960s, BMW added more models. These included stylish coupés and luxury sedans. The BMW 5 Series mid-size sedan came out in 1972. Then came the BMW 3 Series compact sedans in 1975. The BMW 6 Series luxury coupés followed in 1976. Finally, the large BMW 7 Series luxury sedans arrived in 1978.

The BMW M division made its first road car in 1978. It was a super-fast car with its engine in the middle. Later, they made the BMW M5 in 1984 and the BMW M3 in 1986. In 1986, BMW also introduced its first V12 engine. This powerful engine was in the 750i luxury sedan. The 1989 BMW Z1 was BMW's return to making two-seat roadsters. The 1995 BMW Z3 was their first roadster made for many people. In 1999, the BMW X5 was their first SUV.

In 1994, BMW bought the Rover Group. But this didn't go well, and BMW lost a lot of money. In 2000, BMW sold most of the Rover brands. They only kept the Mini brand. In 1998, BMW also got the rights to the Rolls-Royce brand.

BMW introduced its first modern turbocharged petrol engine in 2006. Most engines switched to turbocharging in the 2010s. The first hybrid BMW was the 2010 BMW ActiveHybrid 7. BMW's first electric car was the BMW i3 city car, released in 2013. In 2014, BMW made its first front-wheel drive car. This was the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer MPV.

BMW in the 21st Century

In 2021, BMW announced that sales in 2020 dropped. This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, sales started to rise again by the end of 2020.

In 2022, BMW announced "The Final V12." This special edition of the BMW 7 Series was the last to have a V-12 engine. In 2023, Chris Brownridge became the new CEO of Rolls-Royce.

BMW Branding

What does BMW stand for?

BMW is short for Bayerische Motoren Werke. This means Bavarian Motor Works in English. The word Bayerische means Bavarian. Motoren means engines, and Werke means factory or works. The letters AG mean it's a company owned by shareholders.

People sometimes use nicknames for BMW cars and motorcycles. These include Beemer, Bimmer, and Bee-em.

The BMW Logo

The round blue and white BMW logo is called a roundel. It came from the old Rapp Motorenwerke company logo. That logo had a black ring with the company name. Inside was a horse head. BMW kept the black ring with the name. But they changed the inside to blue and white quarters. These colors are like the flag of Bavaria.

There's a popular story that the logo shows an airplane propeller spinning in a blue sky. This story probably came from a 1929 BMW ad. That ad showed the logo on a spinning propeller. But the logo was actually created 12 years before that ad.

The newest version of the logo came out in 2020. It looks flatter and doesn't have 3D effects. This logo is used for BMW's ads and communication. But the cars still use the older, more detailed logo.

BMW Slogan

BMW's famous slogan is 'The Ultimate Driving Machine'. This slogan was first used in North America in 1974. For a while, they tried a different slogan, 'Joy', to appeal to more people. But by 2012, they went back to 'The Ultimate Driving Machine'.

BMW Finances

Sales by region (2022)

Region	share
China	29.4%
Rest of Europe	25.3%
United States	20.2%
Germany	10.8%
Rest of Asia	9.0%
Rest of Americas	3.5%
Rest of the World	2.0%

Sales by business unit (2022)

Region	share
Automotive	74.2%
Financial services	23.5%
Motorcycles	2.2%

BMW is a very large company. In 2022, they made over €142 billion in revenue. This shows how many cars and motorcycles they sell worldwide.

BMW Motorcycles

BMW started making motorcycle engines and then motorcycles after World War I. Their motorcycle brand is called BMW Motorrad. Their first successful motorcycle was the "R32" in 1923. It had a special "boxer" engine. This engine has cylinders sticking out on each side. Many BMW motorcycles still use this unique design today.

Since 1969, all BMW motorcycles have been made at their factory in Berlin, Germany. During World War II, BMW made a special motorcycle. It was the BMW R75 with a motor-driven sidecar. This made it very good for off-road travel.

In 1982, BMW introduced the K Series motorcycles. These bikes had water-cooled engines with three or four cylinders in a line. Later, they also made the F and G series. These had single or parallel twin engines.

BMW has always been creative with motorcycle design. They used telescopic front suspension early on. They also developed special suspension systems like the Telelever. This system helps reduce how much the front of the bike dips when you brake.

In 2018, BMW showed off a new self-driving motorcycle. Their goal is to use this technology to make roads safer. The design of this bike was based on their BMW R1200 GS model.

BMW Automobiles

Current BMW Car Models

BMW makes many different types of cars. Here are some of their current models:

• 1 Series: These are five-door hatchbacks. A four-door sedan is also sold in China and Mexico.
• 2 Series: These include two-door coupes, "Active Tourer" family cars, and four-door "Gran Coupe" sedans.
• 3 Series: These are popular four-door sedans and five-door station wagons.
• 4 Series: You can find these as two-door coupes, convertibles, and five-door "Gran Coupe" fastbacks.
• 5 Series: These are four-door sedans and five-door station wagons. A longer version is sold in China.
• 6 Series: This is a "Gran Turismo" five-door fastback.
• 7 Series: These are large, luxurious four-door sedans.
• 8 Series: These include two-door coupes, convertibles, and four-door "Gran Coupe" sedans.

• 

  1 Series (F40)

• 

  2 Series Gran Coupé (F44)

• 

  2 Series (G42)

• 

  3 Series (G20)

• 

  4 Series (G22)

• 

  5 Series (G60)

• 

  6 Series (G32)

• 

  7 Series (G70)

• 

  8 Series (G15)

BMW also makes many SUVs and crossovers in their X Series:

• X1
• X2
• X3
• X4
• X5
• X6
• X7
• XM

• 

  X1 (U11)

• 

  X2 (F39)

• 

  X3 (G01)

• 

  X4 (G02)

• 

  X5 (G05)

• 

  X6 (G06)

• 

  X7 (G07)

• 

  XM (G09)

For two-seat sports cars, BMW has the Z Series. The current model is the Z4.

• 

  Z4 (G29)

BMW i Models (Electric and Hybrid)

BMW sells its all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars under the BMW i brand. These cars use electricity to help them move.

• i3: A small hatchback that is electric. It can also have a small petrol engine to extend its range.
• i4: A compact liftback with one or two electric motors.
• i5: An executive sedan with one or two electric motors.
• i7: A large sedan with two electric motors.
• iX1: A compact SUV with two electric motors.
• iX3: A compact SUV with one electric motor.
• iX: A mid-size SUV with two electric motors.

• 

  i3

• 

  i4

• 

  i5

• 

  i7

• 

  iX1

• 

  iX3

• 

  iX

BMW also makes plug-in hybrid versions of its regular cars. These are called iPerformance models. They combine a petrol engine with an electric motor.

BMW M Models (High Performance)

The BMW M GmbH company makes super high-performance versions of BMW cars. They started doing this in 1978. The "M" stands for Motorsport. As of March 2023, the M lineup includes:

• M2: A two-door coupe.
• M3: A four-door sedan and a five-door station wagon.
• M4: A two-door coupe or convertible.
• M5: A four-door sedan.
• M8: A two-door coupe, convertible, or four-door sedan.
• X3 M: A high-performance compact SUV.
• X4 M: A high-performance compact coupe SUV.
• X5 M: A high-performance mid-size SUV.
• X6 M: A high-performance mid-size coupe SUV.

• 

  M2

• 

  M3

• 

  M4

• 

  M5

• 

  M8

• 

  X3 M

• 

  X4 M

• 

  X5 M

• 

  X6 M

The letter "M" is also used in the names of some regular BMW models. For example, the M140i or M760Li. It also appears in optional packages like "M Sport."

How BMW Names Its Models

BMW uses a special way to name its cars. The first number usually tells you the series or size of the car. For example, a 3 Series is smaller than a 5 Series. The letters and numbers after that tell you about the engine and other features.

BMW in Motorsport

BMW has a long and exciting history in car and motorcycle racing. They have competed in many different types of races:

• Touring cars: These are races with cars that look like regular road cars.
• Formula One: This is the highest class of single-seater auto racing.
• Endurance racing: Races that last for many hours, like 24-hour races.
• Isle of Man TT: A famous and challenging motorcycle race.
• Dakar Rally: A very tough off-road race.
• Formula E: Racing with electric cars.

• 

  2016 BMW M4 DTM

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  2016 BMW M6 GT3

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  2016 BMW S1000RR

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  2007 BMW Sauber F1.07

BMW and the Arts

BMW Art Cars

Since 1975, BMW has created special "Art Cars." These are BMW cars painted by famous artists. The first one was a BMW 3.0 CSL racing car. It was painted by sculptor Alexander Calder. Many other famous artists have created BMW Art Cars. These include David Hockney, Roy Lichtenstein, and Andy Warhol. So far, 19 BMW Art Cars have been made. They are based on both racing cars and regular cars.

• 

  1975 3.0 CSL Art Car by Alexander Calder

• 

  1979 M1 Art Car by Andy Warhol

BMW Architecture

The main BMW Headquarters building in Munich looks like the top part of a 4-cylinder engine. It was designed by Karl Schwanzer and finished in 1972. This building is now a famous landmark. It was even made a protected historic building in 1999.

The BMW Museum is a cool, cauldron-shaped building. It was also designed by Karl Schwanzer and opened in 1972. Inside, it has a spiral design. The roof is a huge BMW logo, 40 meters wide!

BMW Welt is a special exhibition space in Munich. It was designed by Coop Himmelb(l)au and opened in 2007. It has a showroom where customers can see their new cars. There are even lifting platforms that theatrically show off a customer's new car.

• 

  BMW Museum

• 

  BMW Welt

BMW in Film

In 2001 and 2002, BMW made a series of eight short films called The Hire. These films featured BMW models being driven in exciting ways by actor Clive Owen. Famous directors like Guy Ritchie and Ang Lee worked on these films. A ninth film in the series was released in 2016.

BMW and Visual Arts

BMW supports many awards in the visual arts. These include the BMW Art Journey award. It helps young artists. They also have the BMW Painting Award to find new painting talent in Spain.

BMW Production and Sales

BMW builds complete cars in several countries:

• Germany: In cities like Munich, Dingolfing, Regensburg, and Leipzig.
• United States: At their plant in Spartanburg.
• Mexico: In San Luis Potosí.
• China: In Shenyang.

BMW also has places where they assemble cars using parts shipped from other factories. These are called "complete knock-down" (CKD) operations. They are in Brazil, Thailand, Russia, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, and India.

In the UK, BMW has a Mini factory near Oxford. They also have plants in Swindon and Hams Hall. Rolls-Royce cars are assembled at Goodwood.

BMW Motorcycles are made at the company's Berlin factory. This factory used to make aircraft engines.

BMW Recalls

Sometimes, car companies have to recall vehicles to fix problems. In 2016, BMW recalled 136,000 cars in the U.S. for fuel pump wiring issues.

In 2018, BMW recalled many diesel vehicles in South Korea. There was a problem with a part called the exhaust gas recirculation module. This caused some engine fires. The recall was then expanded to more cars in Europe.

BMW Collaborations

BMW has worked with other car makers on different projects:

• McLaren Automotive: BMW designed and made the powerful V12 engine for the McLaren F1 supercar.
• Groupe PSA: They worked together to produce four-cylinder petrol engines.
• Daimler Benz: They teamed up to make hybrid parts for the ActiveHybrid 7. They also worked on self-driving technology.
• Toyota: In 2013, they agreed to develop fuel cell technology together. They also created a shared platform for sports cars, like the 2018 BMW Z4 (G29) and Toyota Supra.
• Audi and Mercedes: They jointly bought Nokia's map service, Here Maps, in 2015.

BMW Sponsorships

BMW sponsors many events and teams. In 2010, BMW made a six-year deal to sponsor the United States Olympic Committee.

In golf, BMW has sponsored several big tournaments. These include the PGA Championship and the BMW International Open.

In rugby, BMW sponsored the South Africa national rugby union team from 2011 to 2015.

BMW Car-sharing Services

BMW has been involved in car-sharing services. DriveNow was a service by BMW and Sixt in Europe. It operated from 2011 to 2019. It had over 1,000 vehicles in five cities.

In 2012, BMW's company Alphabet started AlphaCity. This was a car-sharing service for businesses in Europe.

The ReachNow car-sharing service started in Seattle in 2016. It also operates in Portland and Brooklyn.

In 2018, BMW launched a pilot car subscription service called Access by BMW. It was in Nashville, Tennessee. However, this service was later paused in 2021.

BMW Overseas Facilities

BMW Production Plants

BMW in China

BMW's first production plant in China opened in 2004. It was a joint project with Brilliance Auto. This plant in Shenyang makes 3 Series and 5 Series cars for the Chinese market. A second factory opened in Shenyang in 2012.

In 2021, BMW announced they would also start making the X5 in China. In 2022, BMW invested more money in their Chinese partnership. They became the first foreign carmaker to own most of a joint venture in China.

BMW in Hungary

In 2018, BMW announced they would build a new car factory in Hungary. The plant will be near Debrecen. It will be able to make 150,000 cars each year.

BMW in Mexico

In 2014, BMW announced a new plant in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. This plant cost $1 billion. It employs 1,500 people and makes 150,000 cars every year.

BMW in the Netherlands

Some Mini models and the BMW X1 are made in the Netherlands. They are produced at the VDL Nedcar factory in Born.

BMW in South Africa

BMW cars have been put together in South Africa since 1968. BMW fully bought the plant in 1975. It became BMW South Africa. This was BMW's first fully owned company outside Germany.

After 1994, BMW South Africa focused on making the 3 Series for export. South African-built BMWs are sent to many countries. These include Japan, Australia, the UK, and the United States.

BMW in the United States

BMW cars have been sold in the United States since 1956. They have been made there since 1994. The first BMW dealership in the U.S. opened in 1975.

The BMW factory in Greer, South Carolina is the biggest BMW plant in the world. It makes about 1,500 vehicles every day. This plant produces the X3, X4, X5, X6, X7, and XM SUV models.

BMW also has sales, marketing, and financial services in North America.

BMW Assembly Facilities (CKD)

BMW in Brazil

In 2014, BMW opened a new assembly plant in Araquari, Brazil. The first car assembled there was a 3 Series. This plant assembles several BMW and Mini models.

BMW in Egypt

Since 2005, some BMW models sold in Egypt are assembled there. These include the 3 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series, X1, and X3.

BMW in India

BMW India was started in 2006. A BMW assembly plant opened in Chennai in 2007. It assembles several BMW car and motorcycle models for the Indian market.

BMW in Indonesia

PT. BMW Indonesia was set up in 2001. In 2011, BMW invested more money to expand its production. They opened an assembly plant in Sunter, Jakarta. This plant assembles many BMW and Mini models for Indonesia.

BMW in Malaysia

BMW has an assembly plant in Kedah, Malaysia. It has been assembling various BMW and Mini models for the Malaysian market since 2008.

BMW in Russia

Some 3 Series and 5 Series cars for the Russian market were assembled in Kaliningrad starting in 1999. However, BMW stopped production in Russia in 2022. This was due to world events.

BMW in Uruguay

In Uruguay, a company called Convex assembled BMW cars from 1965 to 1992. They produced about 12,000 cars.

BMW Vehicle Importers

BMW in Canada

BMW's first dealership in Canada opened in 1969 in Ottawa. In 1986, BMW set up its main office in Canada.

BMW in Japan

BMW Japan Corp is a company that imports and sells BMW vehicles in Japan.

BMW in the Philippines

BMW Philippines is the official company that imports and sells BMW cars in the Philippines.

BMW in South Korea

BMW Korea imports BMW vehicles into South Korea. They have many service centers for customers. BMW Korea also has its own driving center in Incheon.

See also

In Spanish: BMW para niños

• BMW Group Classic
• List of BMW engines