September 08, 2008
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The history of the Bavarian Motor Works is a history of innovation, dedication and determination.
These achievements are reflected in the BMW emblem, symbolizing a rotating airplane propeller from BMW's early years as an aircraft engine manufacturer. Today, the emblem signifies a global company that annually produces hundreds of thousands of engines, motorcycles, and cars.
1910-1919 | 1920-1929 | 1930-1939 | 1940-1949 | 1950-1959 | 1960-1969 | 1970-1979 | 1980-1989
1913. Karl Rapp establishes Rapp-Motorenwerke in a former bicycle factory near Munich. He begins manufacturing his own aircraft engines. They suffer from problems with vibration that Rapp is unable to fix, so he switches to building Austro-Daimler aircraft engines under license.
1916. The Bayerische Flugzeugwerke AG (BFW) is founded, and partner Gustav Otto (right) merges his three-year-old aircraft factory.
1917. BMW's first aircraft engine -- the Type IIIa -- goes into production. A water-cooled six-cylinder inline engine, it features a unique "high-altitude carburetor" developed by Friz that allows it to develop full power at altitude.
1918. The Bavarian Motor Works becomes a public company
BMW's first notable success was the 6-cylinder BMW IIIa engine, which in 1918 powered a biplane to 5,000 meters altitude in just 29 minutes. It was an impressive performance for those days, one that led to strong demand for BMW engines.
1919. Franz Zeno Diemer sets a world altitude record of 9,760m (32,013 ft.) in an aircraft powered by a BMW Type IV engine.
The Treaty of Versailles prohibits the production of aircraft in Germany. Otto closes his factory and BMW switches to manufacturing railway brakes. KLM of the Netherlands is the world's first airline company.
1920. Martin Stolle (center) designs the M2 B 15 engine for the "Victoria" model motorcycle.
1922. The First BMW factory is built on Neulerchenfeldstrasse -- the site of Otto's old aircraft factory -- near the current day Olympic complex in Munich.
Also in 1922, BFW and BMW GmbH combine to form the BMW company that we know today.
1923. The 1923 BMW R32 motorcycle was a 500 cc cycle designed by Max Friz.
Earlier models created by the company, including the Flink (148 cc) and the Helios (500 cc), were chain driven. BMW even experimented with a belt driven cycle before determining that shaft-drive was the most effective and reliable way to power a motorcycle. BMW motorcycles have been shaft driven since the 1923 R32.
1928. BMW buys the car factory at Eisenach/Thuringia and with it the license to build a small car called the Dixi. The company concludes a license agreement to build radial engines with American aircraft-engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney.
1929. Ernst Henne riding a 750 cc BMW sets a new motorcycle record on September 19, 1929, reaching a speed of 134.65 mph (216.75 km/hr).
1930. The air-cooled radial engine is much in demand in the early Thirties, thanks to its excellent power/weight ratio.
Wolfgang von Gronau crosses the North Atlantic in 44 hours from east to west in a Dornier 'Whale' open flying boat powered by BMW engines. BMW Hornet and BMW Xa are the names of the first radial engines from the BMW works in Munich.
1932. The New 20hp BMW 3/20, the first model to be developed entirely in Munich, wins the Concours d'Elegance in Baden-Baden.
1933. Technical revolution: the crankshaft of the new BMW 303 6-cylinder engine, designed by Rudolph Schleicher.
The 1933 303 was BMW's first 6 cylinder model and the first to use the "kidney" style grille.
1934. The famous JU 52 is powered by three air-cooled BMW radial engines based on a Pratt & Whitney design.
1935. The BMW K 12 is the first motorcycle with a telescopic front fork hydraulic shock absorber.
Beginning in 1935, the 315 advanced to become the undisputed champion in the 1.5-liter sports car category.
1936. The most success-crowned sportscar of its day: the 80-hp BMW 328 Roadster.
In the 328 Roadster, BMW produced a car which became a legend of sports car and racing history. Nominated for Car of the Century in 1999.
1937. 108 hp missile: In this machine Ernst Henne sets a world record of 173.686 mph (279.508 km/h), which will stand for 14 years.
A special aeroengine factory starts up at Dürrerhof near Eisenach. Another is set up at Allach near Munich for large-scale production
1940. Made to order: for the Mille Miglia, BMW commissions a streamlined body made of a new, ultra-light aluminum/magnesium alloy.
Series production begins for the 801 aircraft engine. Around 30,000 are built by 1945. BMW wins the Italian Mille Miglia again by a generous margin with the 'aerodynamic coupé' based on the 328.
1941. Production of the R 57 Wehrmacht motorcycle begins: the bolt-on frame allows easy dismantling of the engine.
BMW motorcycle production is gradually transferred to Eisenach because of the war and car production is halted. 81,228 BMWs have been manufactured since 1929.
1942. Resourceful: gasoline scarcity during the war prompts many BMW owners to mount wood-gas generators on the rear of their cars.
1943. BMW's radial engine (shown here, the 109-003) is one of the first mass-production jet engines.
The 109-003 goes into production the following year as one of the world's first jet engines.
1944. Site of reconstruction: BMW begins plans to rebuild its Munich production plant.
BMW tests rockets for the war effort in Basdorf and Zühlsdorf.
1945.The first BMW bicycle with a lightweight aluminum frame.
At the end of the Second World War, BMW lies in ruins. The works in Eisenach and Dürrerhof, Basdorf and Zühlsdorf are lost. The factory in Munich is dismantled. The victorious Allies impose a three-year ban on production because of the company's involvement in constructing aircraft engines and rockets.
1946. A sign of the times: saucepans made from the cylinders of airplane engines.
1947. Dismantled BMW: machinery crated and destined for 17 countries, much of which never reaches its destination.
1948. Geneva Motor Show: since BMW is neither able, nor allowed, to manufacture after the war, British car companies Arlington-Fraser-Nash and Bristol develop licensed models based on earlier BMWs.
The one-cylinder BMW R 24 motorcycle from Munich is the first post-War product.
1949. BMW is back again: presenting its first motorcycle since 1941 in New York.
1950. The BMW R 51/2, BMW's first motorcycle with a Boxer engine, goes into production.
1951. The six-cylinder 501, called the "Baroque Angel", makes its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
1952. Upward trend: within three years, BMW's motorcycle production has risen from 10,000 to 30,000 units.
1953. Celebration: BMW's 100,000th motorcycle, an R 67/2, comes off the assembly line.
1954. "Luxury cruiser" from the ISAR River: prototype of the BMW 502 Baur convertible with a new V8 light-alloy engine.
BMW is the World Motorcycle Sidecar Champion and stays so for the next twenty years.
1955. Political interest: German President Theodor Heuss (left, foreground) and Economic Minister Ludwig Erhard (right) attend the unveiling of the 507 at the 1955 Frankfurt Show. The 503 was introduced at the same show.
1956. Popular mini of the Fifties: the Isetta signals BMW's entry into the small car sector; here it serves as a wedding carriage.
1957. "Stretch" version of the Isetta: the BMW 600 with a Boxer engine takes a maximum of four passengers.
1958. Ernst Hiller, riding a BMW, wins the Austrian Grand Prix.
1959. After sustaining heavy financial losses in the big limousine sector, a merger with Daimler-Benz is planned. But Board Chairman Kurt Golda convinces majority shareholder Herbert Quandt that BMW has a future.
The 700 model is the first big-time series success for a BMW car.
1960. A best-seller: on July 15, 1960, the 20,000th BMW 700 leaves the factory.
1961. A new class of car: the 1500, BMW's first sporty family sedan, in front of the Triumphal Arch in Munich .
1962. Developers of the 1500: Hofmeister, Fiedler, Wolff, von Falkenhausen.
1963. Looking bright: statistics describe the boom of recent years.
1964. BMW flexes racing muscles: Hubert Hahne wins the German Circuit Championship in an 1800ti, taking 27 out of 28 races.
1965. No more airplane engines for now: BMW's engine plant in Allach, founded in 1955, is sold.
1966. November 10, 1966, 10:15 a.m.: BMW takes over the ailing Glas Company, and during the next few years turns Dingolfing into its biggest plant.
BMW launches a new car series with the two-door version of the 1600. This later forms the basis of the 3 Series.
1967. Highly desirable: the BMW 1600 convertible is produced in limited numbers and quickly becomes an collector's item.
1968. Shining example: the 90-hp BMW 1800 has rustproof stainless steel hubcaps and reinforced step plates.
1969. Motorcycle production ceases in Munich: BMW relocates its facilities to Plant No. 3 in Berlin-Spandau. The 5 Series introduces basic new design concepts for motorcycles.
1970. Still in the model stage: first step in the construction of the "Four Cylinders," BMW's head office in Munich.
1971. BMW Headquarters - December 7, 1971: startup date for BMW's new office tower, designed after the 4-cylinder engine.
1972. BMW's mid-engine coupe, with wing doors, many high-tech features and only two seats, was designed by Paul Bracq.
The first 5 Series car is launched in the year of the Munich Olympics. BMW Motorsport GmbH is founded. BMW builds an assembly plant in South Africa.
1973. Eberhard von Kuenheim (center), chairman of BMW AG, presents Franz-Josef Strauss, leader of the CSU Party, an R 60 /5.
The BMW 2002 Turbo from Munich is one of the first mass-produced turbos in the world. BMW is European Formula 2 Champion, European Touring Car Champion and World Sidecar Champion for the twentieth time. The BMW motorcycle division celebrates their fiftieth birthday - 500,000 have been built. The first European subsidiary is opened in France and BMW is founded in North America.
1974. BMW 3.0 CSL with rear wing, front spoiler, side fins, and guide bars: this comprehensive aerodynamic package improves safety and roadholding at high speeds.
1975. Art and the automobile: Alexander Calder turns the 3.0 CSL into an artwork on wheels - the first Art Car.
The 3 Series is launched with the E21 model.
1976. World's first mass-production bike with full fairing: the sporty R 100 RS provides excellent wind and weather protection.
1977. Discreetly elegant: the BMW 7 Series 733i sets new standards in technology, design, and equipment.
BMW driver training commences its traffic-safety program.
1978. BMW Motorsport's first racing model: Formula 1 aces Hans-Joachim Stuck and Niki Lauda pilot the BMW M1 in the Procar Series.
1979. BMW develops Digital Motor Electronics (DME): a microcomputer synchronizes ignition and fuel injection for fuel savings, lower emissions and better engine performance.
BMW supplies the first armored BMW and begins R&D on hydrogen engines. It also founds 'Spielmotor Munich' the first time an industrial company has teamed up with a local authority to promote cultural initiatives. The first meeting of the BMW supervisory board takes place with equal representation of shareholders and employees.
1980. Debut for the mass-production Enduro R 80 G/S: this newly styled bike is the first to be equipped with BMW's single swing-arm "monolever". Weight is reduced and maintenance is easier.
ABS goes into production. The development of the Formula 1 engine begins. BMW motorcycles win the Paris to Dakar Rally - the toughest course in the world - and BMWs go on to win it another three times.
1981. BMW becomes the first European carmaker to establish a subsidiary in Japan.
1982. In a class of its own: BMW wins its sixth Formula 2 European Championship.
The Steyr production facility starts up as the fifth BMW manufacturing plant. A decision is taken to establish a sixth plant at Regensburg.
1983. Brazilian Nelson Piquet beats out Frenchman Alain Prost for the Formula 1 World Championship after earning 59 points in a Brabham powered by a BMW four-cylinder turbo-engine.
BMW incorporates diesel engines for cars in its range. In Geneva, BMW for the first time demands lead-free petrol in Europe.
1984. Power Ride: German Chancellor Helmut Kohl (front), with the Mayor of Berlin, Eberhard Diepgen (center), inaugurate BMW's expanded motorcycle plant in Berlin at the launch of the K series.
The first European models with catalytic converters appear. BMW Technik GmbH is founded. Computers and robots revolutionize work in planning and production.
1985. Founding of BMW Technik: one of the new division's first products is the BMW Z1 prototype.
BMW produces more than 37,000 motorcycles in the year of the centenary of the two-wheeler. Celebration of completion of the BMW Research and Engineering Centre. The BMW 325 iX is the first BMW with four-wheel drive. Just-in-time methods start to alter the way work is allocated between production facilities and suppliers. New agreements at the factories completely separate factory hours from employee working hours.
1986. Alternative fuel: the BMW 745i with direct fuel injection is the first European car with a liquid hydrogen tank and inter nal fuel preparation.
The motor car celebrates its centenary. BMW holds a major retrospective exhibition on the car in art. BMW also celebrates its most successful year in the market in the United States of America (96,800 registrations) and year one at the new Regensburg works. In with 13 other European manufacturers, BMW starts "Prometheus" projects for improved traffic flow during the 1990s.
1987. BMW think tank: the Research & Development Center in Munich (FIZ) employs some 6,000 people.
BMW presents the first German twelve-cylinder automobile engine in half a century, develops an electronic diesel injection system, implements on-board diagnostics in models of all series, and, with the M3, wins the only World Touring Car Championship that has ever been held.
1988. Milestone: BMW is the world's first motorcycle manufacturer to use an electronic-hydraulic antilock braking system (ABS) for bikes. The photo shows the results when brakes are fully applied on a slippery surface with ABS (left) and without ABS.
The Z1 roadster is launched. A BMW repair center is opened in Moscow and an import center in Japan. Regensburg work begins shift on a four-day cycle, including Saturdays. Assembly plants in South America, South Africa and countries in Southeast Asia assemble 250,000 cars. BMW clubs now have 100,000 members.
1989. In the year the Iron Curtain fell, BMW has another first by producing half a million cars. The company also has a turnover of DM 20 million, and acquires Kontron GmbH, a specialist in process engineering. The year sees the launch of the K1 motorcycle and the 850I Coupé.
