BMW is a leader in the automotive industry, and they are known for producing some of the highest quality sedans and coupes in the entire world. They have been in business for quite some time, and are one of the “Big Three” car manufactures from Germany (the others being Mercedes and Audi). In their long history of producing quality automobiles, they have made a wide range of different types of vehicles, however they have always been known for their superb sedans. Today the company sells their cars all across the world and sees billions of dollars in profit every year. So what does this legendary German car manufacturer stand for?
Well first of all the letters BMW literally stand for “Bayerische Motoren Werke” which in English means: “Bavarian Motor Works”. A pretty simple name when you actually think about it since the company is located in Bavaria (the southern part of Germany) in the great city of Munich. But the company stands for much more than just what its abbreviated name means. This company has been around for some time, so to figure out what the company stands for, what “BMW” really means, we have to look at its foundations: the history of the company.
Back in the early 1900’s, the world witnessed the First World War, which its devistation knew no bounds. This is where BMW can trace its roots to. Before the company became BMW they were known as Rapp Motorenwerke, and they produced a variety of aeronautical engines and airplane equipment for the German air-force at the time. They produced large V6 and V8 engines for planes, which at the time were some of the most sophisticated and most powerful. However after the war ended, the company could no longer produce military equipment according to the Treaty of Versailles. So they rebranded and set their eyes on motorcycles, not cars actually. They produced some of the earliest production bikes in the early 1920’s. Eventually the company then moved into the automobile industry and produced their first car in 1928: the BMW Dixi. However as the Nazi’s began to rise to power, BMW was called back for military service and resumed making engines for airplanes. They also designed one of the worlds first jet engine concepts to be used in the first jet-airplane, the Messerschmitt Me 262, however the engine was unsuccessful and did not function properly. After the end of the war the company faced a heavy financial burden, due to the fact the Germanys economy was nearly non-existence. The company automotive division slurred, and was almost closed down in the 1950’s due to poor financial success. However through various acquisitions their automotive division was able to flourish.
Today, they are well-known to produce some of the best cars for not only commercial production, but also Formula 1 racing as well, in addition to their motorcycle line. In 2012 Forbes ranked them as “the number one most reputable company in the world”. The company has even gone on to become the parent companies for both Rolls-Royce and Mini Cooper. While the company is not known for making crazy, exotic supercars, they are known for providing drivers with the best driving experience imaginable.
BMW does produce many fast sport cars, however these cars aren’t just about speed. The modern BMW’s, from their entry level 2 and 3 series, to their higher-end 6 and 7 series and their performance M-class vehicles, BMW’s main focus is on the overall experience; the overall package. The package their cars, especially their high-end models, with all the bells and whistles that you could image. BMW wants you to feel as though their vehicle is an extension of your home, and that you should never feel uncomfortable in one. Take the M6 Grand Coupe for example. The car has a large 4.4 litre M TwinPower Turbo V8 engine with 560 horsepower. Then they build this spectacular car around that with voice command features, a large touch screen, heated and air-conditioned seats, built-in Bluetooth, a Baan and Olufsen HD surround sound system, a heads-up display on the windshield, and much, much more. The interior and exterior of these vehicles are made of the most premium materials available; one never feels that BMW has skimped out on you. That is exactly what BMW stands for: providing the all-around, most complete, driving experience in the world. An experience that will fit your every need; the perfect balance between performance, functionality, luxury, and features. With BMW you get it all.
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