BMW started as an aircraft engine company (Its first plane had a straight-six engine) in 1916 under the name Bayerische Flugzeugwerke. Motorcycle engines, household appliances, and farming equipment followed shortly afterward. In 1922, the company acquired its current name, Bayerische Motoren Werke, and the following year, the R32 motorcycle debuted.
BMW started producing cars in 1928 when it purchased a factory that made Austin 7s. BMW made some changes to the 7 and sold it as the Dixi, wearing a BMW badge. After the war, BMW began to work its way back towards producing new vehicles, and the first post-war BMW car (the 501) hit the market in 1951.
Over the following decades, BMW grew into the market-dominating automaker they are today, expanding globally in the ’70s and establishing the legendary BMW Motorsport division. In 1994, the first BMW factory in the United States opened in South Carolina.
In the same year, the company acquired the Rover Group. However, the original plan to include all Rover Group brands in the BMW family could not be achieved. BMW sold the Rover Group, retaining only the Mini brand. A year later, the successful acquisition of Rolls-Royce was completed, further expanding the BMW Group.
Today, BMW is one of the most popular car brands worldwide, staying true to its roots with a strong presence in motorsports and a focus on performance.
