BMW (Bayerische Motor Werke AG) appeared in 1913 on the outskirts of Munich, as a result of the merger of two mini-companies founded by Karl Rapp and Gustav Otto. The second is the son of the famous inventor of the internal combustion engine (internal combustion engine), Nikolaus August Otto.

At the beginning of the First World War, BMW received many orders for the production of engines for aircraft, after which the founders decide to reunite into one aircraft engine company. After that, an aircraft engine plant appeared in Munich, registered in 1917 under the name - Bayerische Motoren Werke ("Bavarian Motor Plants"), that is, in the abbreviation - BMW. A little later, this date began to be called the date of birth of the BMW company, and Karl and Gustav were named its founders.

Today there is a lot of controversy regarding the date of foundation of BMW, automotive historians constantly argue about this and cannot come to a consensus. This is due to the fact that the official registration of the company is dated July 20, 1917, but long before this date, organizations that also produced engines for aircraft engines successfully existed in the same city. So, in order to find out the true origin of the "roots" of the Bavarian BMW brand, you need to teleport to last century... The involvement of the current BMW in production was first noticed on December 3, 1886, in the city of Eisenach, where from 1928 to 1939. the headquarters of the company was located.

Wartburg

One of the local attractions served as the name for the first car called "Wartburg", the car saw the world in 1898. The emergence was driven by a range of 3 as well as 4-wheel concepts. The first "Wartburgs" were a car with a 3.5-horsepower engine, a volume of 0.5 liters, the body was primitive without the slightest hint of front or rear suspension. This primitive car served as the impetus for the creation of a more perfect model, which appeared a year after the first "Wartburg". The successor could accelerate to an incredible 60 km / h at that time, and already in 1902 the "Wartburg" was born, equipped with a 3.1-liter engine and a 5-speed transmission, which was enough to win the car competition in Frankfurt.

Max Fritz, who previously worked at the Daimler plant, became the chief designer of Bayerische Motoren Werke. Under Fritz, the aircraft engine BMW IIIa was born, which successfully passed bench tests in 1917. After testing, the aircraft, powered by this engine, set a world record, rising to an altitude of 9760 m.

It was this event that became the impetus for the appearance of the BMW emblem - a circle divided by two blue and two white sectors, personifying - a spinning propeller that revolves uncontrollably against the background of the sky.

After the First World War, the BMW company was on the verge of collapse, according to the Versailles Treaty, the production of aircraft engines for the Germans was prohibited, and engines, as you understand, were the only type of product that BMW produced. However, the enterprising Karl Rapp and Gustav Otto were smart enough to get out of this situation, and they decide to redesign the plant for the production of first motors for motorcycles, and after a while the motorcycles themselves. So in 1923 the first BMW R32 motorcycle rolled off the assembly line, which in the same year at the Paris Motor Show wins public recognition and a reputation for being a reliable and high-speed motorcycle. Over time, this sympathy was confirmed by absolute speed records in motorcycle races held in the 20s and 30s.

The beginning of the 20s was marked by a new era for BMW, two influential businessmen appeared in its history - Shapiro and Gothaera, who later became its owners, pulling it out of the crisis and getting rid of debts. The main reason the company was going through difficult times was the lack of its own automotive production... A way out of the situation was found by Shapiro, who had connections with influential English car manufacturers, in fact, Herbert Austin. Shapiiro agreed on joint cooperation and mass production of Austins at the Eisenach plant. Serial production in those days was a rather rare phenomenon, only Daimler-Benz could afford it.

The first "hundred" purebred "Austins", which were incredibly popular in Britain, were "right-hand drive", which became a rather outlandish phenomenon for the Germans. A little later, the car was tailored to "local" preferences and produced under the name "Dixie", of which about 15,000 rolled off the assembly line by 1928. In 1925, Shapiro became seriously interested in the production own cars, which will be built according to an individual design, after which he began to negotiate with the designer-designer - Wunibald Kamm. The negotiations were successful and the designer accepted the invitation to participate in the development of a new car, thereby inscribing his name in the history of the world famous company. For several years in a row, Kamm has been developing units and new powertrains for BMW.

The premiere of the first purebred BMW took place on April 1, 1932, which, after several years of existence, won public recognition. The model itself became - the result of the experience gained while working with "Dixy", as well as the embodiment of its own ideas and developments. Under the hood of the new car is a 20-horsepower engine capable of accelerating the car up to 80 km / h. The role of the transmission was performed by a mechanical "four-stage", which was not equipped with any model until 1934.

Before the Second World War, BMW became one of the fastest growing companies in the world specializing in the production of sports equipment. Among the company's records: the record of Wolfgang von Gronau, who on the open seaplane Dornier Wal, equipped bMW engine makes a journey, crossing the North Atlantic from east to west, and also the record of Ernst Henne, who on an R12 motorcycle, with a cardan drive, set the world speed record for motorcycles equal to 279.5 km / h. The last record was broken only 14 years later, before that no one had managed to achieve such results.

In 1933, the production of the model "303" starts - which became the first BMW car with 6 cylinders, its debut took place at the auto show in Berlin, and became a real sensation. The 1.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine allowed the car to reach a speed of 90 km / h. Subsequently, it formed the basis for many sports projects of the BMW company. In addition, the installation was first installed on new model "303", on which the proprietary radiator grille was first installed, in the form of two oblong ovals. BMW-303 - was designed at the Eisenach plant and was distinguished by: tubular frame, excellent handling, independent front suspension, and remarkable dynamics.

The result of the two-year production of the BMW 303 was 2300 cars, after which new cars appeared, which were already distinguished by more powerful engines with different designations - "309" and "315". From these models, the logical system of designation of BMW models actually went. For example, the number "3" is the series, and 09 is the engine size (0.9). By the way, the system is still used today.

The most striking and remarkable models of that time were "BMW-319" and "BMW-329", which were more sporty than just everyday, their "maximum speed" was about 130 km / h.

In 1936, the public is shown the BMW 326, it looks just gorgeous, and the public immediately falls in love with this new product. The premiere of the model took place at the Berlin Motor Show, the design could hardly be called sporty, it was rather made in the style of that time and taking into account all the trends of the auto world. A chic interior, an open top, a lot of innovations and improvements made this car an object of desire, after which it could easily compete with the models of the Mercedes-Benz brand.

Model "BMW-326" weighed 1125 kg, while having a maximum speed of 115 km / h. and consumed a hundred kilometers. way of 12.5 liters of fuel, thanks to these characteristics and its attractive appearance, the car has become one of the company's bestsellers. The BMW-326 was discontinued in 1941, the volume of production at that time reached almost 16,000 copies, this allowed the BMW-326 model to receive the title of the best pre-war model.

1936 was the year of the appearance of the famous BMW-328 for BMW, which became one of the most successful sports cars of the company. After the appearance of "326" the ideology of BMW was defined, the concept: "Auto - for the driver" is relevant and sow the day. As for the main competitor - Mercedes-Benz, it pursues a goal called: "Auto for passengers". Each of the companies is true to its ideologies and has been strictly following them for several hundred years.

Over the years of its existence, the BMW 328 has become a multiple winner of all kinds of rallies and circuit races, surpassing its competitors in all respects. Under the hood of the car was a six-cylinder engine capable of accelerating to 150 km / h.

With the beginning of the war, car production was suspended, and aircraft engines again became a priority. The Second World War became fateful for most car manufacturers in Germany, and BMW was no exception. The Milbertschofen plant was completely bombed by the liberators, and the enterprise, which was located in Eisenach, was now territorially owned by the Russians. Part of the equipment was confiscated by Russia as repatriations, the rest of the equipment was used for the production of BMW-321 and BMW-340, with subsequent shipment to the USSR.

The factories in Munich remained almost untouched, around which the BMW shareholders concentrated their main forces, with the support of the German National Bank, which helped the company to bring the sports BMW-328 back to life. From 1948 to 1953, BMW produces new sports cars on its basis.

In 1951, the First Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Konrad Adenauer, was shown the new BMW "State Sedan" sedan based on the 501 platform.

BMW was going through hard times, but despite this, in 1951, it demonstrates a prototype of a new car - "BMW-501". The main differences of the model are: drum brakes, a large four-door body (sedan) and a new power unit with a capacity of 65 "horses" with a volume of 1.97 liters. The car was perceived in two ways, the surprise was caused by the financial inability of the company to provide the serial production of the BMW-501 model, but despite this, in 1952, 49 copies came off the assembly line. Two years later, the number reached 3410 units, the buyers were mainly true fans of the BMW brand.

After some time, BMW began to think more and more about the lack of engines, weak, non-thrust engines contributed to a decrease in interest in cars. Designers begin developing a new eight-cylinder engine, the first examples of which appeared in 1954. The engine had a volume of 2.6 liters, its power was 95 hp, after which in the 60s it was increased to 100 hp.

With the advent of a new eight-cylinder engine, the appearance of the "BMW-501" has changed: chrome moldings appeared on the body, which added a certain chic and elegance to it. In addition, the new engine allowed the "501" to accelerate to 160 km / h, of course, the fuel consumption increased significantly, which could not but worry the designers, as well as the BMW management.

Today BMW is a modern, dignified and popular vehicle manufacturer. However, the history of the BMW company clearly reflects its path, traversed in order to gain the trust and respect of its fans.

Currently, the BMW logo adorns cars, motorcycles, bicycles, engines of the best quality. The company's turnover is about 170 billion euros per year, of which about 9 billion is net profit. Large subsidiaries of the brand specialize in the production of small cars, luxury cars and electric vehicles.

Company `s logo

Geographically, the main office of the company is located in Germany, in the city of Munich. Production facilities are located both in some cities in Germany and in other countries. BMW cars have been successfully competing products for many years. Mercedes Benz... Originally founded for the production of aircraft engines, the company has firmly established itself in automotive industry and is one of the flagships in the industry.

Company headquarters

How it all began

The history of the creation of the company began with the fact that in 1916 Karl Friedrich Rapp registered his company for the production of aircraft engines. The headquarters of the future leader of the automotive industry is located in Munich, pursuing certain goals - to be closer to the production facilities for the production of aircraft belonging to Gustav Otto - a friend and, subsequently, companion of Rapp.

Karl Friedrich Rapp, company founder

Almost immediately, the newly created enterprise was lucky in the form of a lucrative contract for the production of engines for Austro-Hungarian aircraft. Along the way, a difficulty arose - a lack of finance. To solve the latter problem, the company was able to expand by accepting co-founders who ensured an influx of money... Unfortunately, this expansion brought a series of setbacks that resulted in the departure of the company's founder. The reins of government passed to Franz Joseph Popp, thanks to whom, from 1918, history continued as a BMW company.

During the historical events of that time, after the conclusion of the Versailles Peace Treaty, the production of aircraft in Germany became impossible - it was banned, and the history of the company turned in a different direction - the manufacture of brake systems for trains and trains.

But for a short time the BMW brand had a connection with the railway transport - already in 1923 the first motorcycle was released under this brand. BMW motorcycles immediately captivated the public with their level - the cars were well thought out, ideal for racing use and spectacular in appearance.

Having made an excellent impression on motorcycle buyers, the founders of the company did not stop at this achievement and in 1928 the first production facilities for the production of automobiles were acquired. Since that time, along with motorcycles, the first car received the right to life.

Automotive history

History bMW cars started with a small car. At that time (and this is the 20-30s of the XX century), small cars were at the peak of popularity due to their fuel economy, maneuverability and ease of control. So, the first developed and released car bmw became Dixi 3/15 PS. It had only 20 horsepower, but a number of its advantages were complemented by the ability to reach speeds of up to 80 km / h, a four-cylinder engine and impeccable workmanship. This model was largely copied from the famous English brand, so in 1933 the model range was replenished with a small-displacement of its own design: the BMW 303.

303

The small volume of the engine was comfortably combined with a relatively light body and not a bad power of 30 horsepower. It was already a real representative of the brand, with the characteristic appearance of the radiator grille in our time.

In 1936-1937, BMW 321 and 327 were produced - cars of full overall dimensions, with a two-liter engine. Beautiful, high quality and very expensive. Thus, the history of BMW as a brand that guarantees top quality products, was launched in 1927 and continues today.

Post-war reconstruction

The forced break in the automotive industry due to hostilities and their consequences affected the BMW company. Factories located in Germany did not have the ability to produce auto and motorcycle equipment. The permission for their manufacture was received only in 1948.

The first BMW 501 released after the war was notoriously unsuccessful. Firstly, while the work on its development and obtaining permits for production lasted, the machine was already morally and physically outdated - the engine did not have good power, and its appearance did not attract buyers. Secondly, the price of the 501 was too high for post-war Germany, and this fact has never increased sales.

501

Having swallowed the failure, the Bavarians took up a job that bore great rewards. In 1954, the 502 was released, which outwardly seemed to be one of the versions of the 501, but had a clear advantage - an all-aluminum V8 engine. Before that, the history of automotive engines had never known such a motor.

502

A good profit was provided by the mass production of a new model manufactured under an Italian license - BMW Isetta. It is a small machine with one door and a motorcycle engine. Such babies were very popular; more than sixteen thousand copies of them were collected.

Isetta

Hard times

In the mid-50s of the twentieth century, the history of the company's development was marked by the development and release of two chic BMW models: 503 and 507 Roadster. The first was immediately noticed at the 1955 motor show thanks to the original body structure called the hartop.

507 Roadster

A powerful engine and the ability to reach speeds of almost two hundred kilometers per hour are guaranteed to make this model the main participant in the show in Frankfurt. The 507th BMW immediately after release was recognized as one of the most beautiful cars in the world. It combines the 3.2-liter engine with the elegant bodywork designed by Count Albrecht Hertz. By the way, one of these roadsters became famous after being bought by Elvis Presley.

Unfortunately, although these BMW cars were created stylish and of high quality, they also had a very expensive cost, which could not but affect the financial condition of the company. Motorcycle production remained at an average level, expensive sedans were bought a little, and small cars were no longer in such demand as before. The history of the BMW brand is again faced with the possibility of a premature end.

Renaissance

In December 1959, a possible sale of the company was announced. The model 700 helped to resolve the crisis. It was decorated with a Michelotti body, and the functionality was provided by a 700 cc engine with a capacity of 30 horsepower. A feature of this model is the location of the motor at the back. The 700th was well received by the public and orders poured in one after another.

700

Having experienced a slight rise, the brand, already in 1962, not only confidently rose to its feet, but also gained fame, known to this day. BMW 1500 - it was this model that brought worldwide fame to the Bavarian company. Rear-wheel drive, with a recognizable deflection of the body and a radiator grille, it was equipped with a four-cylinder engine - so excellent in every respect that even Soviet engineers paid tribute to it, copying it for their creation - Moskvich.

1500

In the 1960s, the history of BMW rapidly developed the direction of sedans and coupes with a striking appearance and attractive technical characteristics. 1962 was the year of the BMW 3200 CS with a Bertone body, 1965 was marked by the production of the first car with an automatic transmission - it was the BMW 2000 coupe.

3200 CS

The power of the car is rapidly increasing every year, already in 1968 the car of this brand overcame the bar of 200 km / h. We are talking about the BMW 2800 CS.

Rapid development

This period fell on 70-90 years of the last century. The BMW 3.0 C SL is a legendary racing model capable of speeds up to 220 km / h, with an improved engine and a novelty of those times - ABS brakes.

The BMW 2000 Turbo is the pioneer of series production of turbocharged cars.

BMW 3er - the production of the third series of bodies began with this model. A new generation engine with a cooling fan was presented here, and the chassis was improved.

BMW 6er - a sports class coupe with a stunning appearance, reliable engine Big Six. In this series, the models have undergone many changes. By 1989, they had a sunroof, a leather interior in body color, a computer, disc brakes, and air conditioning.

The BMW 7er is a luxury sedan body. Quite a few models have been produced in this series. 728, 730 and 733і are among the first to have in their arsenal Chek-control, flow indicators and automatic ZF.

733і

Subsequent models were more refined, including turbocharged, full power accessories and leather interior. In 1986, it was the BMW 7 that was first equipped with a twelve-cylinder engine.

Luxurious, reliable, expensive

Observing the changes in the modifications of cars bearing the BMW emblems, we can say with confidence that every year the equipment of passenger cars is becoming more luxurious, capable of providing for the slightest needs of users, providing complete comfort and convenience in any situation.

BMW cars continue to be produced in sedans and coupes, and already in 1998, a model of the third series was released, which is presented in both a sedan and a station wagon, and in a hatchback. And 1999 was the year of birth, one might say, of the already legendary X5 crossover.

X5

The main feature of this model is equally good adaptability to off-road and to the autobahn - so far no one has previously managed to combine these qualities in their brainchild. It created a sensation among car enthusiasts and became a bestseller for many years.

In 2001, the history of BMW models made another steep turn, presenting their creation from the 7er line - E65, which differs from all previously manufactured ones with a radically new approach to controlling the mechanism. For her, the i-Drіve system was developed, which allows to coordinate up to 700 parameters, a six-speed automatic transmission and a servo brake.

E65

Analyzing the history of everything lineup bmw, the principle of this company's success becomes clear. Here, the priority is intellectual technical developments, the implementation of the most daring ideas, customer orientation in detail, as well as the foresight of shareholders and correct monitoring of market demand.

Motorcycle history

Despite the clear priority in the automotive industry, motorcycles were, are and will be in demand. This type of transport has its own advantages, its own market and assortment.

The very first motorcycle in the history of the company was created by engineer Max Freese, who embodied a radically new idea of \u200b\u200bthe structure of this vehicle. His idea was unusual for 1922 and was the possibility of installing the engine not along, but across the longitudinal axis of the motorcycle.

The first motorcycle

The development led to the release of the innovative R32 model. It was presented at the famous motor show in 1923 and received loud publicity and rapidly growing popularity, even though the cost was quite high.

Having widely presented its new product both in the form of urban transport and in the form of a racing one, the company began to improve the first model. Within ten years, motorcycles bearing BMW emblems have undergone significant changes. Tubular frames have been replaced with extruded metal bases, displacement reaches 750 cc, fork front wheel equipped with shock absorption. Models R12 and R17, produced in 1935, looked similar.

R17

The world fame of BMW as a motorcycle manufacturer was brought by racing. It is by constantly setting new speed records that the motor vehicles of the German brand have become incredibly popular not only in their own country, but also abroad. Famous victory bMW brand brought in 1939 by the racer George Mayer, creating a unique compressor that combines the lightness of a car and a high speed.

The Second World War also served as an excellent advertisement for the brand. Having taken care of providing troops with equipment, the authorities gave preference to BMWs, given their previous merits in speed and ease of control and maintenance. Some models were created specifically for military purposes, such as the R 75, which received a lot of positive reviews and awards from military leaders of different countries.

R 75

After the war, the company set itself a more pressing peacetime goal of ensuring the comfort of the motorcycle rider and passengers. In 1951, the R51 / 3 was released with an improved Boxer engine and a smooth ride.

Over time, the manufacturer will continue to work on improving the configuration and characteristics of its motorcycles. In the 60s, the fashion for this type of transport, both for transportation and for sports, will spread to all of Europe and even America.

It is becoming profitable to produce motorcycles in series. Comfortable and reliable BMW models are becoming widespread and world famous. The new R75 / 5 with 750 cc engine differs not only high speed, but also ease of management, design and quality of components.

In 1973, a jubilee 500,000 motorcycle was released - the R 90 S. distinctive features - streamlined shape and increased engine volume. It was soon supplemented by an even more updated R 100 RS. The production of motor vehicles has become (and still remains) in demand.

R 100 RS

1980 was a landmark year for the production of motorcycles at BMW factories. A single swingarm was developed for the R 80 G / S rear wheel - such a design allowed the car to overcome off-road conditions without sacrificing speed.

Further developments made it possible to equip the K100 with electronic fuel injection and provide it with 90 horsepower. Also in 1993, another novelty conquered women's hearts - the F650 single-cylinder bearer of the blue and white brand badge.

The heyday of the production of motor vehicles fell on the 90s of the last century. In 1996, the company suspends production of three-cylinder models (K75) and switches to four-cylinder - 1200 RS with an engine of 1171 cc and 130 horsepower. The suspension and drive, modified to the ideal, make the novelty a sales star, it is popular both for tourism and for traveling around cities and highways.

Currently, motorcycles are presented in a huge assortment, there are also touring models that pass on any road or even in its absence, high-speed sports bikes that can satisfy the most sophisticated riders, and, of course, classic options for city riding - elegant or extravagant.

BMW motorcycles are constantly being improved, their quality has long been confirmed by years of successful operation, reliable design and the credibility of the brand.

Engine history

BMW was originally formed as an engine company, and it is not so important that engines were planned to be produced for aircraft construction! Be that as it may, when founding production, the founders relied on the quality of this particular part of the machines - the company has always designed, assembled and improved engines for its cars and motorcycles independently, achieving stable operation and maximum performance.

Produced at the very beginning, the engines were mainly for military purposes and were made to order for the German army. But after the end of World War II and the conclusion of the Treaty of Versailles, which prohibits the production military equipment, the plant had to direct its activities in a slightly different direction.

The first engines produced by the company were the primitive M10-M50, this was the first generation of motors, to which special requirements were not yet imposed, their repair was frequent and how simple that at times it was carried out independently by the owners of the cars.

The engines improved over time had a valve timing control mechanism for the intake valve - VANOS. They can already be classified as a new generation of motors. Here, the wear resistance of the engine is significantly increased and the environmental parameters of work are taken into account.

The next stage is the thermostat, which opens at 97 degrees, this made it possible to ideally adapt the motor for driving in urban conditions. These engines have a complete combustion function. Such engines (and this is M54, M52TU) work with an electronic gas pedal, the sensitivity of which is increased tenfold. This device is very whimsical in the choice of the brand of fuel. The quality of the poured product directly affects its correct operation and duration of operation.

Sport in BMW history

With such a huge variety of car and motorcycle models, the history of BMW could not ignore such a popular field of application of technology as sports. Often it was sports models that brought the brand popularity and ensured sales growth!

The first BMW sports car was manufactured in 1936 and instantly made a splash in the world of motorsport. It was a BMW 328, its design ideally combined the light weight of the car and good power with an engine displacement of only two liters. In subsequent years, based on this model, other, more high-speed ones were released.

The first sports car

The shareholders of the company, seeing the successful trend in the development of production in the sports direction, in 1972 created a subsidiary company - BMW Motorsport GmbH. It was designed specifically for the development, production and refinement of racing models.

In 1973, the BMW 3.0 CSL gained dizzying fame after participating in circuit races. This model also had a corresponding racing look - spoilers on the trunk, enlarged fenders, and besides this - a lot of advantages in technical equipment. The first turbocharged version, the BMW 2002 turbo, had a similar career - a unique engine was developed for it, adapted specifically for the race track.

It was at this time that BMW confidently became a leader in the sports series, releasing new racing products with light weight and high power... Both cars and motorcycles are produced in this area. In the automotive industry, the CSL series continues to develop, a six-cylinder engine appears, a brake aBS system, body made of special lightweight alloys.

BMW motorcycles are developing very quickly in the racing business - the main focus of the company's designers is in this direction. Engines for racing cars are being developed. The famous Boxer motorcycle series has undergone many improvements, including special racing engines, wheel shock absorbers and off-road adaptability. In particular, it was on a BMW motorcycle (it was the R 90 S) that the Superbike Championship in America was held in 1976.

R 90 S

All these successes led to the opening in 1988 of a dedicated production facility for BMW Motorsport GmbH in Munich.

For over 50 years, there has been a separate racing program from BMW Motorsport, which provides for the production and sale of cars for racing sports.

origin of name

The name BMW is logically derived from the original purpose of the company: Bayerische Motoren Werke, namely "Bavarian Motor Plants". The history of the brand began shortly before the First World War, when this enterprise for the production of aircraft engines was created.

Officially, this happened in Munich, on July 20, 1917 - from this date the history of BMW begins. The founders of the Bavarian engine factories were Karl Rapp and Gustav Otto - having opened two of their small companies, they later merged them into one, which became the world famous BMW.

Logo creation

The history of the brand's logo is no less interesting. Known to every modern person, the blue and white emblems of BMW were developed at the very beginning of the foundation of the enterprise and symbolized the white propeller of an aircraft against a blue sky background.

The history of the creation of this brand directly influenced the creation of the logo. Since the company was founded as a Bavarian Motor Works and produced aircraft motors. It is only natural that the history of the logo began with the development in the heavenly style.

First emblem

The very first version in the history of the emblem, approved in 1917, depicted the propeller of a flying plane. The idea was great, but the design of such a logo turned out to be complex and visually the details were small. In the small icon it was completely impossible to understand what exactly was depicted on it. Therefore, in 1920, the shareholders of the company decided to improve it.

Evolution of the logo

The image of the propeller has been simplified to the kind we know today: blue and white diamonds. The white quarters of the circle represent the propeller of the engine, the blue ones represent the sky background. Such an image is doubly relevant, since it is in white and blue colors that the flag and coat of arms of Bavaria go.

The history of the BMW mark is simple and straightforward, and the logo of this brand is known all over the world and is recognizable at first sight.

A look into the future

A company that has survived more than one crisis, has made many technical discoveries and the right marketing moves, is firmly on its feet, is simply doomed to a successful career. Celebrating its 100th anniversary, BMW has set itself the goal of "The Next 100 Years".

Market research and customer needs are currently being researched. Careful analysis of the data will lead to the development and production of the latest types of machines, taking into account modern digital technologies. Additive technologies and total automation of processes, digital intelligence, the possibility of robotic control are in active development. vehicle and other innovations.

BMW pays special attention to environmental protection, it was the first in the world to introduce compliance requirements for its production environmental standards... In the future, it is planned to focus on this issue, taking into account new fuels, electric vehicles and the like.

BMW has been, is and will remain one of the leaders in the global automotive industry. The quality, exterior, technical data and ease of operation, which invariably accompany absolutely all products of this brand, speak for themselves for more than a hundred years.

BMW - how much is in these three letters. There is not a single person in the world in the world who would not know that this is one of the best German car companies. Cars of this brand excite the minds of adolescents, adult men and even female representatives. It all started back in 1913, when two young people create two firms for the production of engines for aircraft. Soon they merge into one company, which is proudly called "Bavarian Motor Plants". Since that time, BMW cars are called Bavarian, and some official dealers get the prefix "Bavaria" in the name. The official year of the company's establishment is 1917. In five years the company will be almost 100 years old. A whole century of unique and diverse cars, various innovations and a lot of fans around the world. This is BMW's greatest achievement. After the end of the First World War, the company was on the verge of bankruptcy and decided to focus on the production of motorcycles and engines for them. Note that BMW still produces the most modern two-wheeled vehicles that are sold in countries such as North Ossetia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, South Ossetia, Abkhazia , Armenia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, USA, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Europe (European Union (EU)), Bulgaria, Great Britain, Spain, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, France, Croatia, Czech Republic, Montenegro , Austria, Switzerland, Australia, Israel, India, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, Iran, China, Japan, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya.

The German company develops a wide variety of motorcycle engines and motorcycles themselves, while thinking about making cars. In 1928 year BMW buys a license to manufacture his first car. He gets the name Dixi. The novelty immediately begins to conquer Europe, and the Bavarians are slowly increasing their popularity all over the world. In those years, BMWs distinguished the sporty character of their creations. As you can see, these features can still be seen in the company's cars.

In the 30s of the last century, the first BMW 328 was produced, which will become one of the most successful in history. The main difference between the "three-ruble note" is in its aggressive nature. The 3 Series car has won a number of awards and honors, which only underline the correctness of the chosen BMW line.

After the Second World War and the collapse of Germany, the company begins to experience not the most rosy times. BMW again decides to focus on the production of aircraft engines. However, the Germans are still hungry for innovation and create a mixture of motorcycle and automobile. The track-wheeled "miracle" (and there is no other way to call it) is gaining success in the homeland, but just a few months later, people begin to take an interest in other cars and BMW is approaching the brink of bankruptcy. The question arises of selling the company, and the main mercedes competitor is even trying to buy out the Bavarian company. BMW undergoes capital restructuring and begins to continue its production. In fact, this is the beginning of the formation of a company that has won the hearts of motorists around the world. Note that today this allows the Bavarians to successfully sell their cars for such world currencies as the Russian ruble, the US dollar, the Australian dollar, the Belarusian ruble, the British pound, the Kazakhstani tenge, the Canadian dollar, the Chinese yuan, the Ukrainian hryvnia, the New Zealand dollar , Swiss frank.

Naturally, many banks in the world are pleased to cooperate with a reputable German brand. Among them we can highlight the banks of Belarus, Banks of Russia (VTB Bank, Sberbank, Alfa Bank), Banks of Europe, Banks of Ukraine, Banks of the USA, Banks of Switzerland.

The German concern is gradually opening new factories around the world, producing the first car with a turbocharged engine, and also creating an anti-lock braking system known as ABS. All of the above achievements bring BMW closer to the world automotive leaders... In the 70s of the last century, the still popular models of the 3rd, 5th, 7th and 6th series were created, without which it is impossible to imagine a German brand today.

Meanwhile, other automakers are not standing still: VAZ, UAZ, Renault, Audi, Toyota, Kia, BMW, Nissan, Ford, Chevrolet, Volkswagen, Mercedes.

BMW cars are increasingly mentioned in various media in Russia and the CIS, Foreign media, among which are: The Guardian, The Financial Times, The New York Times, Forbes.

The company does not forget about the production of motorcycles, which are also gradually gaining popularity, as well as Yachts, Cars, Phones, Dogs, Diamonds, online games, and real estate.

1994 BMW acquires British industrial group Rover, which owns the Rover brands, Land rover and MG. This purchase allows the company to increase its share of the SUV and compact car market. Four years later, the Germans get the British premium brand Rolls Royce.

The number of cars produced is constantly growing. Today BMW is a very prestigious brand, therefore, employees of embassies, consulates, travel and insurance companies often move on the cars of the German company. In addition, cars attract the attention of such personalities from the world of show business as Alla Pugacheva, Anastasia Volochkova, Ani Lorak, Christina Orbakaite, Ksenia Sobchak, Philip Kirkorov, Nikolai Baskov.

Beha when will it be? Yes, right now, do not worry. Greetings to all fans of turbojet thrust and turboshaft BMW. I have everything ready, I even made a bifurcated exhaust, And in today's video we will see what a turbo starter from a MIG-23 aircraft is capable of, installed instead of a standard internal combustion engine in this luxurious car, the internal combustion engine will be thrown out, but now the turboshaft engine was presented to me by subscribers. For which many thanks to all. I brought it to working order. I hooked all the pumps, oil, fuel, made an exhaust. I hung it on a standard gearbox through an adapter plate and a transition mechanism. And now we are ready to start. A special vacuum pump is installed, which maintains the vacuum in the vacuum amplifier. Accordingly, now the brakes in this car will be and will be completely normal. So this is our fuel pump, this is our starter. Well, we will all try. Something is set on fire with difficulty. Stop! In short, so far something like that. Something went wrong, (Second attempt) It seems to have started Filling up with kerosene I think 50 liters will be enough, drive Well, so we refueled What are we doing? Let's start! Not a fig for a beast! You can hear by the sound that the monster is already close! tin! The oil has burnt out everything, no longer smokes. And then you could track him. What how? Fine? No skidding? Yes? One more time. Can we all, let's go upstairs? We're in a car and you ... Huh? We are in our car, huh? No, everything here Aa, everything here? Yes. Yes, let's go! Is it driving normally? Excellent! Come on here. We must try to grind. Well, let me go out, right? Yes, yes Can you do it again? One wheel only grinded What is smoking? This rubber is smoking. Yes? Yes. Come on again. Let it ventilate here (second gear) Normal car, driving (dynamics in garages) We are in third, the knee is shaking Now you are to the end, right? That's it, we cut it down. Thank you for taking it. In short, the guys everything worked in the normal mode, we drove, I don't know how many minutes ten, maybe even more. We polished with rubber, started up to 50 or up to 60, even overclocked once. Well, you have to go to a longer track and try there. The dynamics are not bad, well, there is nowhere to catch on, here is a dirt road. Therefore, we have to start in a different place. Well, here we are. It remains to charge this baby with fuel and oil And you can start She eats, of course, the whole thing in space, just some kind of scale Well, what do the guys do, all the same gas turbine engine he is a turboshaft, he is a turbo starter is actually oil Well, here you already know what And here is kerosene! Since the last pokatushek in garages, its quantity has considerably decreased. Therefore, we fill it up to a full tank like this. A little bit here Oh! Now it's okay guys (kerosene) What, you also want to try? Of course, the operator has to charge too. Yes, wait, wait, that's enough! give it back here. You look (do not repeat :)) All the guys jokes are over now we will start. Find out the maximum speed Start key Marked So. Well, we give in to the guys. I'm afraid I'll have to switch to fifth. And the fifth one knocks out 87 km / h, the maximum speed in 4th gear did not switch to the fifth Something burst! It’s necessary to watch. In short, it’s not gaining a hundred square meters, guys, I don’t know what to do, the fifth one doesn’t stick, so we’ll try to drift to give a corner, so to speak, yes, guys it happened, we fill it again. You just need to refuel. Come on, fuck you with your tires, damn it, it's tough, but I almost died there. Well, almost already, right? Almost. Let's continue. Come on. It's all rubber, guys. By the way, the asphalt does not spoil! See the asphalt is normal, the same as the sun was shining. I barely survived there, to be honest, I was already leaning out and out of the window, trying to breathe, well, there was nothing to breathe at all. Listen, you won't wash off her later. Or is she clean? Or is she clean? Yes, it is clean, it does not even smear. It is necessary to finish this matter. Let's start again! Hopefully there will be less smoke, though ... who am I kidding? Ha ha ha! There is! Well what happened what, didn't it? Sure! Guys, I hope you enjoyed this show. At least once in my life I had to do it. I haven't done it for sure. I also thought the Khan's disk. So it rattled all over. But the disc survived Well, in general, on this, as you can see for sure, we do not have any spare wheels. (in the vastness of the channel)

Official website: www.bmw.com
Headquarters: Germany

German automobile company specializing in the production of passenger cars, sports cars, cars high cross-country ability and motorcycles.

In 1913, on the northern outskirts of Munich, Karl Rapp and Gustav Otto, the son of the inventor of the internal combustion engine Nikolaus August Otto, set up two small aircraft engine companies. The outbreak of the First World War immediately brought numerous orders for aircraft engines. Rapp and Otto decide to merge into one aircraft engine plant. This is how an aircraft engine plant appeared in Munich, which in July 1917 was registered under the name Bayerische Motoren Werke (“Bavarian Motor Plants”) - BMW. This date is considered to be the year of foundation of BMW, and Karl Rapp and Gustav Otto are its founders.

Although the exact date of appearance and the moment of foundation of the company is still a subject of controversy between automotive historians. And all because the official industrial company BMW was registered on July 20, 1917, but long before that in the same city of Munich, there were many companies and associations that were also engaged in the development and production of aircraft engines. Therefore, in order to finally see the "roots" of BMW, it is necessary to travel back to the last century, to the territory of the not so long ago GDR. It was there that on December 3, 1886, the involvement of today's BMW in the automotive business was "exposed", and it was there, in the city of Eisenach, in the period from 1928 to 1939. was the headquarters of the company.

One of the local attractions of Eisenach was the reason for the name of the first car ("Wartburg"), which was released in 1898 after the company created a number of 3- and 4-wheel prototypes.

A very important moment in the history of the BMW company and the plant in Eisenach was 1904, when cars under the name "Dixie" were exhibited at the Frankfurt Motor Show, testifying to the good development of the enterprise and a new level of production. There were two models in total - "S6" and "S12", the numbers in the designation of which indicated the amount of horsepower. (By the way, the "S12" was not discontinued until 1925.)

Max Fritz, who worked at the Daimler plant, was invited to the position of chief designer at Bayerische Motoren Werke. Under the leadership of Fritz, the aircraft engine BMW IIIa was manufactured, which successfully passed bench tests in September 1917. The aircraft equipped with this engine set a world record at the end of the year, having climbed to 9760 m.

At the same time, the BMW emblem appeared - a circle divided into two blue and two white sectors, which was a stylized image of a propeller spinning against the sky, taking into account the fact that blue and white are the national colors of the earth of Bavaria.

After the end of the First World War, the company was on the verge of collapse, since under the Treaty of Versailles, the Germans were forbidden to produce engines for aircraft, namely, engines were the only BMW products at that time. But the enterprising Karl Rapp and Gustav Otto find a way out - the plant is redesigned to produce first motorcycle engines, and then the motorcycles themselves. In 1923. the first R32 motorcycle leaves the BMW factory. At the 1923 Motor Show in Paris, this first BMW motorcycle immediately gained a reputation for speed and reliability, which was confirmed by absolute speed records in international motorcycle races of the 20s and 30s.

In the early 1920s, two influential businessmen appeared in the history of BMW - Gothaer and Shapiro, to whom the company fell, falling into the abyss of debts and losses. The main reason for the crisis was the underdevelopment of its own automobile production, along with which the enterprise, by the way, was engaged in the production of aircraft engines. And since the latter, unlike cars, brought the bulk of the means for existence and development, BMW found itself in an unenviable position. The "medicine" was invented by Shapiro, who was on a short leg with the English car manufacturer Herbert Austin and was able to negotiate with him about the start of mass production of Austins in Eisenach. Moreover, the production of these cars was put on the conveyor, which by that time, except for BMW, could only boast of Daimler-Benz.

The first 100 licensed Austins, which enjoyed incredible success in Britain, rolled off the assembly line in Germany with right-hand drive, which was a novelty for the Germans. Later, the design of the machine was changed in accordance with local requirements, and the machines were produced under the name "Dixie". By 1928 more than 15,000 Dixies (read Austins) had been manufactured, which played a decisive role in the revival of BMW. This became apparent for the first time in 1925, when Shapiro became interested in the possibility of producing cars of his own design and began to negotiate with the renowned constructor and designer Wunibald Kamm. As a result, an agreement was reached, and one more talented person was involved in the development of the now famous car brand... Kamm has been developing new components and assemblies for BMW for several years.

Meanwhile, positively for BMW, the question of approving the brand name was resolved. In 1928, the company acquires the car factories in Eisenach (Thuringia), and with them a license for the production of a small car Dixi. On November 16, 1928, "Dixie" ceased to exist as a trademark - it was replaced by "BMW". Dixi is the first BMW car. In a period of economic difficulties, the small car becomes the most popular car in Europe.

By the beginning of the Second World War, BMW was one of the most dynamically developing companies in the world, producing equipment with a sports orientation. She has several world records to her credit: Wolfgang von Gronau crosses the North Atlantic from east to west on an open seaplane Dornier Wal powered by BMW, Ernst Henne on an R12 motorcycle equipped with a cardan drive, hydraulic shock absorbers and a telescopic fork (BMW invention) sets the world speed record for motorcycles - 279.5 km / h, unbeaten by anyone for the next 14 years.

Production receives an additional impetus after the conclusion of a secret agreement with Soviet Russia on the supply of the latest aircraft engines to it. Most of the Soviet record-breaking flights of the 1930s were performed on aircraft equipped with BMW engines.

In 1933, the production of the "303" model was launched - the first BMW car with a 6-cylinder engine, which debuted at the Berlin Motor Show. Its appearance became a real sensation. This in-line "six" with a working volume of 1.2 liters allowed the car to travel at a speed of 90 km / h and became the basis for many subsequent BMW sports projects. Moreover, it was applied on the new model "303", which became the first in the history of the company, which was equipped with a radiator grill with a corporate design, expressed in the presence of two elongated ovals. The "303" model was designed at the Eisenach plant and was distinguished primarily by a tubular frame, independent front suspension and good handling characteristics reminiscent of sports. For two years of production of "BMW-303" the company managed to sell 2300 of these cars, which, by the way, were later followed by their "brothers", distinguished by more powerful motors and other digital designations: "309" and "315". Actually, they became the first models for the logical development of the BMW model designation system.

Along with all previous cars, the model "326", which appeared at the Berlin Motor Show in 1936, looked just gorgeous. This four-door car was far from the world of sports, and its rounded design already belonged to the direction that came into force in the 50s. An open top, good quality, a chic interior and a large number of new changes and additions put the "326" model on a par with Mercedes-Benz cars, the buyers of which were very wealthy people.

With a mass of 1125 kg, the BMW-326 model accelerated to 115 km / h and at the same time consumed 12.5 liters of fuel per 100 km of run. With similar characteristics and with its appearance, the car was included in the list best models company and was produced until 1941, when the volume of production of BMW amounted to almost 16,000 units. With so many cars produced and sold, the BMW-326 became the best pre-war model.

Logically, after such a resounding success of the "326" model, the next logical step should have been the appearance of a sports model based on it.

World War II wreaked havoc on German car manufacturers, and BMW was no exception. The liberators bombed the plant in Milbertschofen cleaned up, and the plant in Eisenach ended up in Russian-controlled territory. Therefore, the equipment from there was partially exported to Russia as repatriations, and what remained was used for the production of the BMW-321 and BMW-340 models, which were also sent to the USSR.

1955 saw the launch of the R 50 and R 51 models, opening a new generation of motorcycles with fully sprung undercarriage, comes out the small car "Isetta", a strange symbiosis of a motorcycle with a car. A three-wheeled car with a door that opens forward in traffic was a huge success in impoverished post-war Germany. At the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1955, she became the absolute opposite of the models produced at that time. The tiny "BMW Izetta" looked like a bubble with little attached headlights and side mirrors. The rear wheel distance was much shorter than the front one. The model was equipped with a single-cylinder 0.3 liter engine. With a power of 13 hp "Izetta" accelerated to a maximum of 80 km / h.

Along with the little Izetta, BMW presented two luxurious coupes, the 503 and 507, based on the 5 Series sedan. Both cars were at that time "quite sporty", although they had a "civil" appearance. But because of the ensuing enthusiasm for large limousines and the associated losses, the company is on the verge of collapse. This is the only case in the history of BMW when the economic situation was calculated incorrectly and the cars thrown onto the market had no demand.

Models from the 5 Series did not improve BMW's position in the 1950s. On the contrary, debts began to grow rapidly, sales decreased. To remedy this situation, the bank, which provided assistance to BMW and was one of the largest shareholders of Daimler-Benz, proposed setting up production of a small and not very expensive Mercedes-Benz car at factories in Munich. Thus, the existence of BMW as an independent company, producing original cars with its own name and trademark, was threatened. Small shareholders of BMW and dealerships throughout Germany actively opposed this proposal. Together, a certain amount of money was collected, which was required to develop and start production of a new model "BMW" of the middle class, which was supposed to significantly improve the position of the company in the 60s.

By restructuring its capital structure, BMW is able to continue its operations. For the third time, the firm starts all over again. The middle class car was supposed to be family car for "average" (and not only) Germans. A small four-door sedan body, a 1.5-liter engine and independent front and rear suspensions, which at that time were not present in all cars, were considered as the most suitable option.

It was almost impossible to launch the car into production by 1961 and then present it at the Frankfurt Motor Show: there was simply not enough time. Therefore, under pressure from the sales department, several prototypes were urgently prepared for the exhibition, designed to attract future customers. The stake was made and in many respects justified itself. During the exhibition and over the next few weeks ... about 20,000 orders for "BMW-1500" were made!

In the midst of the production of the 1500 model, small engineering firms began to modify the car and increase the engine power, which, of course, could not please the BMW leadership. The response was the release of the "1800" with a 1.8-liter engine. Moreover, a little later, the "1800 TI" version appeared, which corresponded to cars of the "Gran Turismo" class and accelerated to 186 km / h. Outwardly, it did not differ very much from the basic version, but, nevertheless, it became a worthy addition to the already replenished family.

BMW 1800 TI ", although only 200 copies were produced, nevertheless became an extremely popular model. By 1966, on the basis of the car, the designers created a worthy follower -" BMW-2000 ", which today is perceived as the ancestor of the 3-series, released by the present moment in several generations.At the same time, a coupe with a 2-liter engine and 100-120 hidden under the hood "horses" was a matter of special pride for BMW.

In fact, "BMW-2000" in basic and other versions belongs to one of the most successful models in the entire history of the BMW company. It takes a lot of time to count the number of body options that appeared then and power units different power and with different maximum speeds. Together, they formed a series that received the designation "02". Its representatives could satisfy the requests of almost all motorists, who were offered a choice from the simplest and most modest coupes to "sophisticated" high-speed convertibles with alloy wheels, boxes - "automatic" and motors of 170 "horses".

The last thirty years have been for BMW thirty years of victories. New factories are opened, the world's first serial turbo model "2002-turbo" is produced, anti-lock braking brake systemwhich all leading car manufacturers now equip their cars with. The first electronic engine control is developed. Almost all models of the 60s that brought the automaker so much popularity were equipped with four-cylinder engines. However, the management of BMW still remembered about powerful and reliable units, the release of which was intended to be revived by 1968 simultaneously with the release of a new model - "BMW-2500". The single-row "six-cylinder" used in it, constantly undergoing modernization, was produced over the next 14 years and managed to become the basis for the same reliable and more powerful 2.8-liter engine. Together with the latter, the four-door sedan moved to a number of sports cars, tk. only few serial cars in standard equipment, they could exceed the speed mark of 200 km / h.

The headquarters building of the concern is under construction in Munich, and the first control and testing range opens in Aschheim. A Research Center was built to design new models. In the 1970s, the first cars of the famous bMW series - models of the 3rd series, 5th series, 6th series, 7th series.

In the year of German reunification, the concern, having founded BMW Rolls-Royce GmbH, returns to its roots in the field of aircraft engine building, and in 1991 presents the new BR-700 aircraft engine. In the early 1990s, the third generation compact sports cars of the 3 Series and the 8 Series coupes appeared on the market.

A good move for the company was the purchase in 1994 for $ 2.3 billion. german marks industrial group Rover Group ("Rover Group"), and with it the largest complex in the UK for the production of cars of the brands Rover, Land Rover and MG. With the purchase of this company, the list of BMW cars was replenished with missing ultra-small cars and SUVs. In 1998 the British company Rolls-Royce was acquired.

Since 1995, all BMW vehicles have been fitted with an airbag for the front passenger and an anti-theft engine locking system as standard equipment. In March of the same year, the touring of the 3 series was launched.

BMW, which started out as a small aircraft engine plant, currently manufactures its products at five plants in Germany and twenty-two subsidiaries scattered around the world. It is one of the few automotive firms that does not use robots in factories. All assembly on the conveyor is done only by hand. At the exit - only computer diagnostics the main parameters of the car.

Over the past 30 years, only BMW and Toyota have managed to operate with increasing profits every year. The BMW empire, three times in its history, found itself on the brink of collapse, each time rose and achieved success. For everyone in the world, the BMW concern is synonymous with high standards in the field of automotive comfort, safety, technology and quality.