A Century Of Innovation And Excellence

The BMW Group: A Global Automotive Powerhouse

A Century of Innovation and Excellence

The BMW Group, a global leader in the automotive industry, traces its roots back to 1916. The company's official founding date is March 7, 1916, when an aircraft producer named Bayerische Flugzeug-Werke AG (BFW) emerged in Munich, Germany. BFW had initially been established in 1912 as a subsidiary of Rapp Motorenwerke, a company founded by Karl Rapp to manufacture aircraft engines.

From Aircraft Engines to Automobiles

In 1917, BFW merged with another aircraft manufacturer, Gustav Otto Flugmaschinenfabrik, and the newly combined entity was renamed Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW). The company shifted its focus from aircraft engines to motorcycle production in 1923, and in 1928, it unveiled its first automobile, the BMW 3/15. BMW AG was listed on the stock exchange in 1929, marking a significant milestone in its history.