Who is the founder of BMW?

Contrary to what is known, the company's logo did not represent the aircraft engine but represented the blue and white, the color of Bavaria. The colors of the royal coat of arms are reversed, as the use of the coat of arms in commercial logos is prohibited. During the First World War, the Rapp-Motrenweke company supplied aircraft engines to the air force of the German Empire. The headquarters of Rapp-Motorewenke was in Munich, the capital of Bavaria. Gustov Otto Flugmaschinefabric, the factory where the engines were attached to the airplanes, went bankrupt in 1916 and was renamed Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW). Shortly after, the name of the Rapp company was changed to Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) limited company in 1917.

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, abbreviated as BMW, is a German multinational manufacturer of luxury vehicles and motorcycles headquartered in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. The company was founded in 1916 as a manufacturer of aircraft engines, which it produced from 1917 to 1918 and again from 1933 to 1945.

From Aircraft Engine Company to Brake and Engine Company

In 1918, Bayerische Motoren Werke became a joint stock company. With the end of the First World War, the construction of aircraft engines was stopped as a result of the prohibitions imposed on Germany by the Versailles Treaty. Thus, BMW has focused its production on rail brakes and onboard engines. BMW has been very successful in this area. Berlin-based brake company Knorr-Bremse Company took the majority of BMW's ownership in 1920, integrated the company, and moved to Munich.

Karl Friedrich Rapp (24 September 1882 in Ehingen (Danube) – 26 May 1962 in Locarno) was a German founder and owner of the Rapp Motorenwerke GmbH in Munich. In time this company became BMW AG. He is acknowledged by BMW AG as an indirect founder of the company.

In 1922, investor and aircraft construction pioneer Camillo Castiglioni was the main shareholder of the Knorr-Bremse company. By purchasing the BMW company name; employees took over the engine-building operations, along with the production facilities and the company logo. Afterward, he handed over everything to BFW (Bayerische Flugzeugwerke). In the same year, the company moved to BFW's factory premises in Lerchenauer Strasse and changed its name to Bayerische Motoren Werke AG. And so the name BMW entered the commercial register for the second time. All this means that BMW AG is the legal successor to BFW. The BMW Group's corporate headquarters and main factory are to this day located at the former BFW plant in Milbertshofen, Munich. There is one more thing that aircraft manufacturers have bequeathed to BMW AG: 7 March 1916, the founding date of BFW, is considered BMW's official birthday.

Franz Josef Popp (14 January 1886 in Vienna – 29 July 1954 in Stuttgart) was one of three men responsible for the founding of BMW AG and the First General Director of BMW AG from 1922 to 1942.

First Motorcycle and Car

The first BMW motorcycle, the R 32, was launched in 1923. In 1933, the BMW 3030, the first automobile developed by the company, was produced. BMW ceased production of aircraft engines at the end of the Second World War. BMW became an automaker in 1928, acquiring the company known as Fahrzeugfabrik Eisenach. Although the first BMW car was built under license from the Austin Motor Company in 1929, it was replaced by the company's designs in 1932.

Camillo Castiglioni (22 October 1879 – 18 December 1957) was an Italian-Austrian Jewish financier and banker, and was the wealthiest man in Central Europe during World War I. Nicknamed "Austrian Stinnes", he was active in aviation's pioneering days and invested in the arts. Castiglioni was credited as being instrumental to the founding of what would eventually become BMW AG.

Aircraft Engine Production

Beginning in 1933, the German government provided financial support to aircraft production. In 1934, BMW transferred its aircraft-engine division to BMW Flugmotorenbou. Two years later the company was founded as Flugmotorenfabric Eisenach as a public and private limited company, and in 1939 the letters BMW were included in its name. BMW company and company BMW Flugmotorenbou founded the company Flugmotorenfabric Allach. In 1941 the plant was significantly expanded for the industrial production of aircraft engines. In 1939, BMW took over Brandenburgische Motorenwenke (Bramo), the aircraft engine factory in Berlin-Spondou, and integrated it into the BMW company. BMW became a German weapons and war materials manufacturer during World War II and devoted its resources almost exclusively to producing aircraft engines for the German Air Force.

BMW After WWII

After the Second World War, BMW factories were occupied. Machines and tools were dismantled at BMW. Since 1945, mainly household appliances have been produced. In 1948, the first motorcycle was produced after the war. The R 24 motorcycle was sold above expectations, with 9,144 units sold in 1949 alone. In 1951, the first post-war automobile was produced. The BMW 501 was produced as a luxury model.

In the 1950s, the company was not doing well. In late 1959, Daimler-Benz offered BMW a restructuring proposal. However, the company did not accept this offer. The company was restructured with the temporary financial assistance of the government. In the mid-1960s, the BMW Munich plant reached its capacity limit and new facilities were acquired. In 1969, motorcycle production was transferred to Berlin-Spandou to meet automobile production demands.

Company's Growth

BMW established the Herbert Quandt Foundation on its main shareholder's 60th birthday. The foundation has gained an international reputation for sharing knowledge and experience. It also promoted understanding between East and West after the Cold War.

In 1972, BMW opened its first factory outside of Germany. In 1972 he also brought together various motor racing activities within the BMW Motorsport company.

In 1973, the BMW headquarters and museum were opened as a "four-cylinder building" with unusual architecture. In 1973, BMW took sales responsibility for all major markets from importers. The BMW Group became the company operating on the global stage.

In 1979, the BMW engine factory was established in Steyr, Austria. In 1985, the BMW Tech company was founded to develop ideas and concepts for automobiles. In 1990, BMW company opened the Research and Innovation Center in Munich by gathering all its research and development activities under one roof. Around 7 thousand scientists, engineers, designers, managers, and technicians were integrated into the facility.

In 1994, BMW opened an automobile manufacturing facility in the USA. The factory expanded its production facilities in the late 1990s. Also in 1994, the company acquired Rover Group in the UK to expand its model range. However, the Rover Group was sold in 2000. Only the Mini brand remained. In 1998, BMW acquired the naming rights for Rolls-Royce cars. Rolls-Royce was owned by Volkswagen until the end of 2002 when BMW assumed full responsibility and rights for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

Reorganization of the BMW Company

In 2000, BMW was reorganized to increase the strength of the company. Since 2000, the company; With its BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars brands, has focused only on the Premium segment in the international automobile industry.

In 2003, BMW joined forces with a Chinese partner to form BMW Brilliance Automotive Company to handle the production, sales, and customer support of BMW vehicles in China. The following year, the factory opened in Shenyang and produced cars exclusively for the local market. In 2012, the second factory was opened in Shenyang.

In 2005, the German Leipzig factory was opened. The facility is designed to produce 750 vehicles per day in the medium term and to employ 5500 people while operating at full capacity.

In 2013, the company entered a new era of electric vehicles. Presented the electric serial production model.

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CHRONOLOGY.

Defining moments in the history of the BMW Group.

https://www.bmwgroup.com/en/company/history.html