BMW logo history
The circular blue and white BMW logo or roundel is portrayed by BMW as the movement of an aircraft propeller, to signify the white blades cutting through the blue sky – an interpretation that BMW adopted for convenience in 1929, twelve years after the roundel was created.[7][8] The emblem evolved from the circular Rapp Motorenwerke company logo, from which the BMW company grew, combined with the white and blue colors of the flag of Bavaria, reversed to produce the BMW roundel.
BMW Company history
BMW is born of the merger on 7 March 1916 [2], two engineering companies in Munich, Bayerische Flugzeugwerke and Otto-Werke. It was originally a manufacturer of aircraft engines. This is noted in the emblem of the brand: a propeller in motion against the background of the Bavarian colors: blue and white.
At least the official version. The truth is less poetic. When the company becomes the Bayerische Motoren Werke, in 1917, its leaders decided to use the colors of Bavaria. However, to spare the sensitivities of the monarchy, highly centralized at the time (Germany were united only since 1871, no question of reviving the regional trends), the Bavarian colors are inverted, blue before going white. It was only later that the link will be made with aircraft engines, the marketing department and saw many advantages. Over time, the legend has persisted [3].
With the defeat of Germany during the First World War, he was forbidden to produce aircraft and engines to his country, and therefore she was forced to retrain.
BMW headquarters in Munich, Bavaria on the site of the historic first factory engine aircraft Gustav Otto in 1911.
It is diversified and produced engines for motorcycles (1922, with a flat-twin designed by Max Friz), trucks and cars.
The production of motorcycles was of importance, with a significant investment in the competition. In 1929, a BMW reached 216.75 km / h, led by Ernst Henne.
Apart from a record altitude illegal in 1920 (9 760 m), production of aircraft engines resumed in the 1930s, first with the licensed production of engines Pratt & Whitney, then with the radial engine BMW 801 fitted to the Focke-Wulf Fw 190. In 1939, he equips the Junker 52. In 1944, BMW is developing the first jet engine in the world.
In 1928, BMW bought the Dixi plant, the German manufacturer located in Eisenach, began assembling the tiny Austin Seven french Dixi which had obtained the rights. Thus was born in 1929 the 3 / 15 PS. She won the Cup of the Alps in 1929.
In 1930, produced a model named Wartburg, 748 cm ³.
In 1933 the post 303, equipped with a 6 cylinder 1773 cm3 and 315 to 1 490 cm ³.
Motorcycling activities continue, since the 100 000th bike released in 1938, and the speed record, going to 279.5 km / h in 1939. The model R75 with sidecar equip the army.
During World War II, BMW had ample use of forced labor, including the manufacture of aircraft engines in the Allach camp near Munich. BMW admits to having used between 25 000 and 30 000 prisoners whose salary was ridiculous treasure back to SS. The German section of Ford, Ford would have used the same practices prior to its systematization by the Nazi government.
* In 1994 under Bernd Pischetsrieder, the company took control of MG Rover Group, but six years later, Rover continued to make huge losses and BMW sells Rover and Morris Garage in four British industry, the Phoenix Partners. In 2007, BMW Group sold the rights to the Rover brand to Ford group, so that it can guarantee the protection of commercial Land Rover that belonged to her.
* In 2000, BMW sold Land Rover to the U.S. carmaker Ford Motor Company but kept the Mini brand.
* Since 2001, BMW sells a new version of the Mini.
The BMW logo is a registered trademark of the BMW company. Use of the logo here does not imply endorsement of the organization by this site.
