BMW: Difference between revisions

The '''BMW Group''' (legally, '''Bayerische Motoren Werke AG''', commonly abbreviated to '''BMW''' ({{IPA|de|ˌbeːʔɛmˈveː|–|De-BMW.ogg}}), sometimes anglicized as '''Bavarian Motor Works'''), is a German multinational manufacturer of [[luxury vehicle]]s and [[motorcycle]]s headquartered in [[Munich]], [[Bavaria]], Germany. The company was founded in 1916 as a manufacturer of [[aircraft engine]]s, which it produced from 1917 to 1918 and again from 1933 to 1945 creating engines for aircraft that were used in the [[World War II|Second World War]].

The companies automobiles are marketed under the BMW, [[Mini (marque)|Mini]] and [[Rolls-Royce Motor Cars|Rolls-Royce]] brands, and motorcycles are marketed under the [[BMW Motorrad]] brand. InAlso in 2023, BMW was the world's [[List of manufacturers by motor vehicle production|ninth-largest producer of motor vehicles]], with 2,555,341 vehicles produced<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.factorywarrantylist.com/car-sales-by-manufacturer.html |title=2023 Worldwide Car Sales by Manufacturer |publisher=F&I Tools USA |date=2023 |access-date=1 May 2024}}</ref> and in 20222023 the 7th6th largest by revenue.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wwwde.factorywarrantyliststatista.com/carstatistik/daten/studie/30723/umfrage/umsatz-salesder-byweltweit-revenue.html|title=Top 20 Automakers by Revenue &#124; Worldwide Car Sales Revenue|website=F&I Tools}}fuehrenden-automobilhersteller/</ref> In 2023, the company was ranked 46th in the [[Forbes Global 2000]].<ref>{{Cite web|lang=en|url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/global2000/?sh=51d599675ac0|title=The Global 2000 2023|website=Forbes|access-date=2024-02-07|archive-date=2024-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129031905/https://www.forbes.com/lists/global2000/?sh=4f5ab07e5ac0}}</ref> The company has significant motor-sport history, especially in [[touring car racing|touring cars]], [[sports car racing|sports cars]], and the [[Isle of Man TT]].

BMW is [[BMW Headquarters|headquartered in Munich]] and produces motor vehicles in Germany, Brazil,the China,United India, MexicoKingdom, the Netherlands (ceased in 2023),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2352434-tegenslag-voor-nedcar-bmw-stopt-in-2023-met-de-productie-in-born|title=Tegenslag voor Nedcar: BMW stopt in 2023 met de productie in Born|date=15 October 2020|website=nos.nl}}</ref> Souththe AfricaUnited States, theBrazil, United KingdomMexico, andSouth theAfrica, UnitedIndia Statesand China. The {{Interlanguage link multi|Quandt (family)|lt=Quandt family|de|3=Quandt (Familie)}} is a long-term shareholder of the company, following investments by the brothers [[Herbert Quandt|Herbert]] and [[Harald Quandt]] in 1959 that saved BMW from [[bankruptcy]], with the remaining shares owned by [[Public float|the public]].

The [[Otto Flugmaschinenfabrik]] was founded in 1910 by [[Gustav Otto]] in the [[Kingdom of Bavaria]], which was a state of the [[German Empire]]. The firm was reorganized on 7 March 1916 into {{lang|de|Bayerische Flugzeugwerke AG}}. This company was then renamed to {{lang|de|Bayerische Motoren Werke}} (BMW) in 1922. However, the name BMW dates back to 1913, when a company to use the name was founded by [[Karl Rapp]] initially as {{lang|de|[[Rapp Motorenwerke]]}}. The name and {{lang|de|italic=no|Rapp Motorenwerke}}'s engine-production assets were transferred to {{lang|de|italic=no|Bayerische Flugzeugwerke}} in 1922, who adopted the name the same year.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bmw.com/en/automotive-life/BMW-name-meaning-and-history.html |title=BMW name, meaning, and history |publisher=bmw.com}}</ref> BMW's first product was produced for fighter aircraft of the {{lang|de|italic=no|[[Luftstreitkräfte]]}}. It was a straight-six aircraft engine called the [[BMW IIIa]], designed in the spring of 1917 by engineer [[Max Friz]]. Following the end of World War I, BMW remained in business by producing motorcycle engines, agricultural equipment, household items, and railway brakes. The company produced its first motorcycle, the ''[[BMW R32|BMW R 32]]'', in 1923.

In March 2018, Daimler and BMW merged their mobility services.<ref>{{Cite webjournal |title=BMW et Daimler regroupent leurs services de mobilité |url=https://www.usine-digitale.fr/article/bmw-et-daimler-regroupent-leurs-services-mobilites.N673254 |website=usine digitale|date=28 March 2018 |last1=Digitale |first1=Usine }}</ref>

In January 2021, BMW announced that its sales in 2020 fell by 8.4 percent due to the impact of [[COVID-19 pandemic]] restrictions. However, in the fourth quarter of 2020, BMW witnessed a rise of 3.2% in its customers' demands.<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 January 2021 |title=BMW sales fall 8.4% in 2020 as coronavirus takes toll |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bmw-results-idUSKBN29H0Y7 |access-date=12 January 2021}}</ref> This recovery was supported by the company's adoption of widely accepted technologies and integration of third-party services such as Apple Pay and on-demand music.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kukkamalla |first=Prasanna Kumar |last2=Bikfalvi |first2=Andrea |last3=Arbussa |first3=Anna |date=2021-07-07 |title=The new BMW: business model innovation transforms an automotive leader |url=https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JBS-02-2020-0021/full/html |journal=Journal of Business Strategy |language=en |volume=42 |issue=4 |pages=268–277 |doi=10.1108/JBS-02-2020-0021 |issn=0275-6668|hdl=10256/19355 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>

BMW is an abbreviation for ''Bayerische Motoren Werke'' ({{IPA|de|ˈbaɪ̯ʁɪʃə mɔˈtʰɔʁn̩ ˈvɛɐ̯kə}}). This name is grammatically incorrect (in German, compound words must not contain spaces), which is why the grammatically correct form of the name, ''Bayerische Motorenwerke'' ({{IPA|de|ˈbaɪ̯ʁɪʃəˈbaɪʁɪʃə mɔˈtʰɔʁn̩vɛɐ̯kəmoˈtoːʁənˌvɛʁkə|-|GT BMW-AG.ogg}}) has been used in several publications and advertisements in the past.<ref>Hans List: ''Vorwort und Einführung zum Gesamtwerk. Band 1 von Die Verbrennungskraftmaschine'', Springer, Wien, 1949. {{ISBN|9783662294888}}. ''Verzeichnis der Abkürzungen''</ref><ref>Roland Löwisch: ''BMW - Die schönsten Modelle: 100 Jahre Design und Technik' by azar''. HEEL, 2016, {{ISBN|9783958434066}}. p 7.</ref> ''Bayerische Motorenwerke'' translates into English as ''Bavarian Motor Works''.<ref>{{cite web|title=BMW 1970s brochure for the United States|url=https://bmw-grouparchiv.de/research/media/9cc857a2-7fa5-4080-ba54-fd5494794417/web|website=www.bmw-grouparchiv.de|access-date=10 February 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114021349/https://bmw-grouparchiv.de/research/media/9cc857a2-7fa5-4080-ba54-fd5494794417/web|archive-date=14 January 2018}}</ref> The suffix AG, short for ''[[Aktiengesellschaft]]'', signifies an incorporated entity owned by shareholders, thus akin to "Inc." (US) or PLC, "Public Limited Company" (UK).

The terms Beemer, Bimmer and Bee -em are sometimes used as [[slang]] for BMW in the English language<ref>{{cite book |title=Bee em / BMW Motorcycle Club of Victoria Inc |publisher=[[National Library of Australia]] |url=http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3913069 |access-date=23 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728125152/http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3913069 |archive-date=28 July 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite webnews |title=BMWNo InfinityToupees Cars:allowed Authorized|date=2 BMWOctober Dealership Showroom in Mumbai, New Delhi & Indore2009 |url=httpshttp://www.infinity-groupbangkokpost.incom/bmwauto/autoreview/24915/no-toupees-allowed |websitenewspaper=Infinity[[Bangkok GroupPost]] |access-date=2024-10-2524 October 2009}}{{dead link|date=September 2012}}</ref> and are sometimes used interchangeably for cars and motorcycles.<ref name=Lighter1>{{Cite book |title=Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang: A-G |first=Jonathan E. |last=Lighter |publisher=Random House |year=1994 |volume=1 |isbn=978-0-394-54427-4 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/randomhousehisto01ligh/page/126 126–27] |quote='''Beemer''' ''n.'' <nowiki>[BMW + ''er'']</nowiki> a BMW automobile. Also '''Beamer.''' |url=https://archive.org/details/randomhousehisto01ligh/page/126 }}</ref><ref name=Lighter2>{{Cite book |title=Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang: A-G |first=Jonathan E. |last=Lighter |publisher=Random House |year=1994 |volume=1 |isbn=978-0-394-54427-4 |page=[https://archive.org/details/randomhousehisto01ligh/page/159 159] |quote='''Bimmer''' ''n.'' <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Beemer.</span> |url=https://archive.org/details/randomhousehisto01ligh/page/159 }}</ref><ref>'''1982''' S. Black ''Totally Awesome'' 83 BMW ("Beemer").<br />'''1985''' ''L.A. Times'' (13 April) V 4: Id much rather drive my Beemer than a truck.<br />'''1989''' L. Roberts ''Full Cleveland'' 39: Baby boomers... in... late-model Beemers.<br />'''1990''' ''Hull High'' (NBC-TV): You should ee my dad's new Beemer.<br /> '''1991''' ''Cathy'' (synd. cartoon strip) (21 April): Sheila... <nowiki>[ground]</nowiki> multi-grain snack chips crumbs into the back seat of my brand-new Beamer!<br />'''1992''' ''Time'' (18 May) 84: Its residents tend to drive pickups or subcompacts, not Beemers or Rolles.</ref>

|+Sales by region (2022)<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=BMW AG: Shareholders Board Members Managers and Company Profile {{!}} DE0005190003 {{!}} MarketScreener |url=https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/BMW-AG-56358353/company/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=www.marketscreener.com |language=en}} </ref>

The key trends of the BMW Group are (as at the financial year ending December 31):<ref>{{Cite web |title=BMW St Fundamentalanalyse {{!}} KGV {{!}} Kennzahlen |url=https://www.boerse.de/fundamental-analyse/BMW-St-Aktie/DE0005190003 |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=boerse.de |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-02-14 |title=BMW Fundamentals (2007-2015) |url=http://www.boerse.de/fundamental-analyse/BMW-St-Aktie/DE0005190003 |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=web.archive.org |archive-date=14 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214203631/http://www.boerse.de/fundamental-analyse/BMW-St-Aktie/DE0005190003 |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-08 |title=BMW Fundamentals (2013-2021) |url=https://www.boerse.de/fundamental-analyse/BMW-St-Aktie/DE0005190003 |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=web.archive.org |archive-date=8 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208225428/https://www.boerse.de/fundamental-analyse/BMW-St-Aktie/DE0005190003 |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Company Reports |url=https://www.bmwgroup.com/en/investor-relations/company-reports.html |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=www.bmwgroup.com |language=en}}</ref>

BMW began production of motorcycle engines and then motorcycles after World War I.<ref name="artof">Peter Gantriis, Henry Von Wartenberg. "The Art of BMW: 85 Years of Motorcycling Excellence". MotorBooks International, September 2008, p. 10.</ref> Its motorcycle brand is now known as [[BMW Motorrad]]. Their first successful motorcycle after the failed Helios and Flink, was the "[[BMW R32|R32]]" in 1923, though production originally began in 1921.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reference.com/vehicles/history-bmw-motorcycles-usa-5e17ca6bfcbc7a67?qo=cdpArticles|title=What is the history of BMW motorcycles in the USA?|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824225728/https://www.reference.com/vehicles/history-bmw-motorcycles-usa-5e17ca6bfcbc7a67?qo=cdpArticles|archive-date=24 August 2017|access-date=6 May 2017}}</ref> This had a "[[Flat-twin engine|boxer]]" twin engine, in which a cylinder projects into the air-flow from each side of the machine. Apart from their single-cylinder models (basically to the same pattern), all their motorcycles used this distinctive layout until the early 1980s. Many BMW's are still produced in this layout, which is designated the [[History of BMW motorcycles#R series|R Series]].

* [[BMW 2 Series|2 Series]] two -door coupes (model code [[BMW 2 Series (G42)|G42]]), "Active Tourer" five-seat MPVs ([[BMW 2 Series Active Tourer|U06]]) and four-door "Gran Coupe" fastback sedans (model code [[BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé|F44F74]]).

File:BMW G45 20 IMG 2276.jpg|X3 ([[BMW X3 (G45)|G45]])

{{As of|MarchNovember 20232024}}, the M lineup is:<ref name="BMW M lineup 2022">{{cite web |url=https://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/bmw-m/models.html#electrified-performance-m-models%20 |title=BMW M models |publisher=BMW USA |access-date=2 September 2022}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=July 2023}}

* [[BMW M5|M5]] four-door sedan and five-door station wagon

* [[BMW X3X4 (G01G02)|X3X4 M]] compact coupe SUV<ref name="X3/X4 M Press">{{cite web |title=The all-new BMW X3 M and the all-new BMW X4 M. |url=https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T0291184EN/the-all-new-bmw-x3-m-and-the-all-new-bmw-x4-m?language=en |website=www.press.bmwgroup.com |access-date=14 February 2019 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214174305/https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T0291184EN/the-all-new-bmw-x3-m-and-the-all-new-bmw-x4-m?language=en |archive-date=14 February 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

File:20182024 BMW M5 AutomaticG99 4.4BS O24.jpg|[[BMW M5|M5]]

* Endurance racing, such as [[24 Hours Nürburgring]], [[24 Hours of Le Mans]], [[24Hours24 Hours of Daytona]] and [[Spa 24 Hours]]

=== FilmArt Cars ===

[[File:BMW Leipzig MEDIA 050719 Download Karosseriebau max.jpg|thumb|[[Spot welding]] 3Series3 Series bodies in Leipzig, Germany]]

BMW's first dealership in Canada, located in [[Ottawa]], was opened in 1969.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Otto's Story|url=http://www.bmwottos.ca/en/ottos_story.php|website=www.bmwottos.ca|access-date=28 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028093821/http://www.bmwottos.ca/en/ottos_story.php |archive-date=28 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1986, BMW established a head office in Canada.<ref>{{cite web|title=In photos: The evolution and history of BMW as it turns 100 |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/in-photos-100-years-of-bmw/article29032892/|access-date=28 October 2017 |website=www.theglobeandmail.com |date=7 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319230610/https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/in-photos-100-years-of-bmw/article29032892/|archive-date=19 March 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>