The birth of BMW can be traced back to two men: Karl Rapp and Gustav Otto. Their respective companies – engine maker Rapp Motorenwerke and aircraft manufacturer Flugmaschinenfabrik Gustav Otto – gave rise to Bayerische Motoren Werke GmbH. Since 1917, BMW’s now world-famous logo has been found on every one of its products. The unveiling of BMW’s very own motorcycle in 1923, marking the company’s spectacular debut in vehicle manufacturing, caused a veritable sensation. That was followed in 1928 by another milestone, as BMW acquired the Eisenach vehicle plant and began producing cars.

Innovative, high-quality products made a name for BMW as swiftly as its top-class performances in the motor sport arena. To this day, iconic models like the BMW 328 of 1936 and the 1973 BMW R 90 S rank as milestones in car and motorcycle design respectively – and continue to set pulses racing among fans of two- and four-wheelers alike.

For all its success, the history of BMW hasn’t always run smoothly. A particularly dramatic episode was the threatened sale of the company in 1959, which was averted at the last minute. But with every crisis and setback, BMW has emerged stronger than before. The introduction of the sporty “New Class” in 1961 kick-started BMW’s ascent to becoming the world’s largest premium car manufacturer. Plus, it was the only German company to continue building motorcycles.
The internationalisation of sales and the expansion of the company’s production network in the 1970s created the framework for a true success story – one that continues to this day.

Much of the mystique and allure of the BMW brand is rooted in creations like the BMW M1 and BMW R 80 G/S, but the company also keeps an unwavering eye on the future.
The launch of the BMW i cars and other pioneering models has opened up a new chapter in BMW’s successful history. Sustainability and new mobility concepts represent important elements in the company’s future development.

On 26 August 1959 the world changed – or the automotive world did, at any rate.
It was on this day that the British Motor Corporation unveiled the first Mini, a car employing innovative solutions to offer unbeatable levels of space within a remarkably small footprint. The mastermind behind this innovative concept was gifted British engineer Alec Issigonis. But it wasn’t just the onboard space of the Mini that impressed; with its faultlessly satisfying driving characteristics and exceptionally agile handling, it left a trail of smiling faces wherever it went – both every day on the road and when answering the call of motor sport competition.

MINI has been part of the BMW Group since 1994. The launch of the new MINI in 2001 saw the brand make the leap into the 21st century. And it still embodies the attitude to life of a whole generation – extrovert, open and full of zest.