Company overview
BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke AG) is a German multinational conglomerate specializing in the manufacture of luxury vehicles and motorcycles. Established in 1917 as Bayerische Flugzeugwerke, the company initially focused on aircraft engine production during World War I. Following postwar restrictions, BMW diversified into motorcycle production in the 1920s and subsequently entered the automobile market with the acquisition of Fahrzeugfabrik Eisenach in 1928, producing the rebadged Austin 7. The company’s brands include BMW, Mini, and Rolls-Royce for automobiles, and BMW Motorrad for motorcycles. In 2023, BMW was the world’s ninth-largest motor vehicle producer and ranked 46th in the Forbes Global 2000. The Quandt family has been a long-term shareholder since 1959, saving the company from bankruptcy. BMW’s slogan, ‘Freude am Fahren’ (Sheer Driving Pleasure), has been used since 1972. The company's logo evolved from the Rapp Motorenwerke circular design, incorporating elements of Bavarian heraldry. Leadership changes occurred in 2019 with Oliver Zipse succeeding Harald Krüger, and in January 2026, Milan Nedeljković assumed the role of chairman. BMW’s history includes wartime production of aircraft engines and slave labor during World War II, followed by a period of rebuilding after the war. The company’s motorcycle production has been centered in Berlin-Spandau since 1969. In January 2025, BMW announced a closed-loop recycling system for electric vehicle batteries.
