Categories: BMW

The history behind BMW and its name

BMW history

We all know BMW as a fun brand vehicle to drive but have you ever wondered what BMW stands for? The company has an interesting story of how it got its name, twice. Keep reading to learn how the name BMW came about and its history of being a motor company.

What’s in a name?

The name’s origin goes all the way back to its roots in the German state of Bavaria. The acronym BMW stands for Bayerische Motoren Werke GmbH, which translates to the Bavarian Engine Works Company. Surprisingly enough, BMW did not have origins with vehicles but with engines for various applications which includes aircraft and trains.

Founding of the name, twice?

The end first World War brought a halt to the construction of aircraft engines since the Treaty of Versailles forbade Germany from doing so. Because of this, BMW had to shift from engines to railway brakes and built-in motors. The Berlin-based company Knorr-Bremse Ag took over BMW in 1920. A major investor came around in 1922, bought the BMW company name and took all the operations to Bayerische Flugzeugweke AG, otherwise known as BFW. BFW’s founding date was March 7, 1916 which is now considered to be BMW’s official birthday.

Read more about BMW: All you need to know about the BMW 6 series

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