Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft (BMW AG),[5] trading as BMW Group (commonly abbreviated to BMW, sometimes anglicised as Bavarian Motor Works), is a German multinational conglomerate manufacturer of luxury vehicles and motorcycles headquartered in Munich, Germany. The moniker, "BMW ", first came into use when the German firm Rapp Motorenwerke changed its name to Bayerische Motoren Werke GmbH (BMW GmbH) in 1917. Thereafter, in 1922, the name and assets of BMW GmbH were transferred to the aircraft manufacturer Bayerische Flugzeugwerke AG (formerly Otto Flugmaschinenfabrik), thereby giving rise to the company known today as BMW AG.[6][7]
BMW AG's automobiles are marketed under the BMW, Mini, and Rolls-Royce brands while its motorcycles are marketed under the BMW Motorrad brand. In 2023, BMW became the world's ninth-largest producer of motor vehicles (with 2,555,341 vehicles made in that year alone)[8] as well as the 6th largest automaker by revenue.[9] In 2023, it was ranked 46th in the Forbes Global 2000.[10] The company also has significant motor-sport history, especially in touring cars, sports cars, and the Isle of Man TT. BMW initially focused on aircraft engine production during World War I, a legacy that influenced the company's engineering emphasis on performance and precision. Following postwar restrictions on aircraft manufacturing, BMW diversified into motorcycle production in the 1920s and later entered the automobile market, establishing itself as a major player in the automotive industry.
BMW AG is headquartered in Munich and produces motor vehicles in Germany, United Kingdom, United States, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, India, and China.[11] The is a long-term shareholder of the company, following investments by the brothers Herbert and Harald Quandt in 1959 which saved BMW from bankruptcy, with remaining shares owned by the public.
History
Sports car racing is a form of circuit racing that features sports prototype and grand tourer (GT) cars. It combines elements of open-wheel racing with touring car racing. The discipline is commonly associated with endurance racing events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which has been held annually since 1923 and is one of the longest-running motor races in the world.
Historic sports car races include the Targa Florio (1906-1977), the Mille Miglia (1927-1957), and the Carrera Panamericana (1950-1954).
Top-level sports car racing typically emphasizes endurance, strategy, and reliability rather than outright speed alone. Longer races often involve complex pit strategies, vehicle maintenance, and multiple driver changes during the race. As a result, sports car racing is generally considered a team-oriented sport rather than an individual competition.
Team managers and constructors such as John Wyer, Tom Walkinshaw, Henri Pescarolo, Peter Sauber, and Reinhold Joest became well known for their contributions to sports car racing teams and manufacturers.
BMW traces its origins to aircraft engine manufacturer Otto Flugmaschinenfabrik, founded in 1910 by Gustav Otto in the Kingdom of Bavaria, then part of the German Empire. On 18 August 1916, the firm was reorganized as Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW). In 1922, BFW was renamed Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW).
The name BMW, however, had earlier been used by a company founded in 1913 by Karl Rapp as Rapp Motorenwerke. In 1922, the name and engine-production assets of Rapp Motorenwerke were transferred to Bayerische Flugzeugwerke, which adopted the BMW name in the same year.
BMW's first products were aircraft engines for the Luftstreitkräfte. One of its early designs was the BMW IIIa, a straight-six engine developed in 1917 by engineer Max Friz. After World War I, BMW diversified into the production of motorcycle engines, agricultural equipment, household items, and railway brakes. In 1923, the company introduced its first motorcycle, the BMW R32.
BMW became an automobile manufacturer in 1928 following its acquisition of Fahrzeugfabrik Eisenach, which produced the Austin 7 under licence from Austin Motor Company, marketed as the Dixi. The first car sold as a BMW was the BMW 3/15, a rebadged version of the Dixi. During the 1930s, BMW expanded its product range to include sports cars and larger luxury vehicles.
Aircraft engines, motorcycles, and automobiles would be BMW's main products until World War II. During the war, BMW concentrated on building the BMW 801 aircraft engine using as many as 40,000 slave laborers.[12] These consisted primarily of prisoners from Nazi concentration camps, most prominently Dachau. Motorcycles remained as a side-line and automobile manufacture ceased altogether.
BMW's factories were heavily bombed during the war and its remaining West German facilities were banned from producing motor vehicles or aircraft after the war. The company survived by making pots, pans, and bicycles. In 1948, BMW restarted motorcycle production. BMW resumed car production in Bavaria in 1952 with the BMW 501 luxury saloon. The range of cars was expanded in 1955, through the production of the cheaper Isetta microcar under licence. Slow sales of luxury cars and small profit margins from microcars, meant BMW was in serious financial trouble and in 1959 the company was nearly taken over by rival Daimler-Benz.[13][14]
A large investment in BMW by Herbert Quandt and Harald Quandt resulted in the company surviving as a separate entity. Günther Quandt was a well-known German industrialist and joined the Nazi Party in 1933; he made a fortune arming the Wehrmacht, manufacturing weapons and batteries.[15] Many of his enterprises were appropriated from Jewish owners under duress with minimal compensation. At least three of his enterprises made extensive use of slave laborers, as many as 50,000 in all.[16] One of his battery factories had its own on-site concentration camp, complete with gallows. Life expectancy for laborers was six months.[16][17] While Quandt and BMW were not directly connected during the war, funds amassed in the Nazi era by his father allowed Herbert Quandt to buy BMW.[12]
The relative success of the small BMW 700 assisted in the company's recovery, allowing them to develop the New Class sedans.
The 1962 introduction of the BMW New Class compact sedans was the beginning of BMW's reputation as a leading manufacturer of sport-oriented cars. Throughout the 1960s, BMW expanded its range by adding coupé and luxury sedan models. The BMW 5 Series mid-size sedan range was introduced in 1972, followed by the BMW 3 Series compact sedans in 1975, the BMW 6 Series luxury coupés in 1976 and the BMW 7 Series large luxury sedans in 1978.
The BMW M division released its first road car, the M1, a mid-engine supercar, in 1978. This was followed by the BMW M5 in 1984 and the BMW M3 in 1986. Also in 1986, BMW introduced its first V12 engine in the 750i luxury sedan. The 1989 BMW Z1 marked BMW's return to making a two-seat roadster, the 1995 BMW Z3 was their first mass-production two-seat roadster, and the 1999 BMW X5 was the company's first entry into the SUV market.
The company purchased the Rover Group in 1994, but the takeover was not successful and caused BMW large financial losses. In 2000, BMW sold off most of the Rover brands, retaining only the Mini brand. In 1998, BMW also acquired the rights to the Rolls-Royce brand from Vickers.
21st century
BMW's first modern mass-produced turbocharged petrol engine was introduced in 2006 (from 1973 to 1975, BMW built 1,672 units[18] of a turbocharged BMW M10 engine for the BMW 02 Series), with most engines switching over to turbocharging over the 2010s. The first hybrid BMW was the 2010 BMW ActiveHybrid 7, and BMW's first mass-production electric car was the BMW i3 city car, which was released in 2013, (from 1968 to 1972, BMW built two battery-electric BMW 1602 Elektro saloons for the 1972 Olympic Games).[19] After many years of establishing a reputation for sporting rear-wheel drive cars, BMW's first front-wheel drive car was the 2014 BMW 2 Series Active Tourer multi-purpose vehicle (MPV).
In March 2018, Daimler and BMW merged their mobility services.[20]
In August 2019, Oliver Zipse replaced Harald Krüger as the head of the BMW Group.[21]
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.[22] 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 as well as key partnerships such as its collaboration with Daimler on autonomous driving.[23][24] Additionally, BMW's strategic investment decisions which include localizing production of its SUVs to the Spartanburg plant in the U.S., placed the group in a position to easily navigate trade challenges and shifting consumer patterns.[23]
On 18 January 2022 BMW announced a BMW 7 Series (G11) special edition simply called "The Final V12",[25] the last BMW series production vehicle to be fitted with a V-12 engine.[25]
On 5 October 2023 it was announced that BMW UK CEO Chris Brownridge would succeed Torsten Müller-Ötvös as the CEO of Rolls-Royce starting 1 December 2023, as a result of Müller-Ötvös retiring.[26]
In January 2025, BMW announced the launch of a closed-loop recycling system for the reuse of raw materials from high-voltage batteries used in its range of electric vehicles.[27] In November 2024, BMW launched a partnership in Europe with SK tes,[28] a provider of solutions to recover cobalt, nickel and lithium from used batteries for use in making new batteries.
In September 2025, BMW jointly developed an automated driving system with Qualcomm. The system will debut on the BMW iX3.[29]
In January 2026, the company was reported to be among the top 30 global investors in research and development (R&D) in 2025.[30]
Branding
Company name
BMW is an abbreviation for Bayerische Motoren Werke. 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 has been used in several publications and advertisements in the past.[31][32] Bayerische Motorenwerke translates into English as Bavarian Motor Works.[33] The suffix AG, short for Aktiengesellschaft, signifies an incorporated entity owned by shareholders, akin to Inc., "Incorporated" (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[34][35] and are sometimes used interchangeably for cars and motorcycles.[36][37][38]
Logo
The circular blue and white BMW logo or roundel evolved from the circular Rapp Motorenwerke company logo, which featured a black ring bearing the company name surrounding the company logo,[39] an image of a horse head on a plinth. BMW retained Rapp's black ring inscribed with the company name, but the interior of the ring is quartered blue and white, reminiscent of the coat of arms and flag of Bavaria (which in turn are based on the arms of the historic House of Wittelsbach, which ruled Bavaria for many centuries).[39] The logo does not bear the distinctive lozenge shape found on the coat of arms, however, as local laws at the time it was introduced forbade the use of state coats of arms on commercial logos.[40]
A persistent myth claims that the logo is based on the image of an airplane propeller spinning in a blue sky. This myth likely stems from a 1929 BMW advertisement that depicted the logo superimposed on a rotating propeller. However, the logo predates that advertisement by 12 years.[39][41]
The current iteration of the logo was introduced in 2020,[42] removing 3D effects that had been used in previous renderings of the logo while removing the black outline encircling the roundel. The logo is used for BMW's branding communications but it is not used on vehicles.[43][44]
Slogan
The slogan 'The Ultimate Driving Machine' was coined by BMW North America in 1974,[45][46] and first used in ads celebrating its win at the 1975 12 Hours of Sebring.[47] In 2010, this long-lived campaign was mostly supplanted by a campaign intended to make the brand more approachable and to better appeal to women, 'Joy'. By 2012 BMW had returned to 'The Ultimate Driving Machine'.[48]
Marks
In 2023, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)’s Madrid Yearly Review ranked BMW's number of marks applications filled under the Madrid System as 2nd in the world, with 124 trademarks applications submitted during 2023.[49]
Leadership
- Franz Josef Popp (1922–1942)
- Fritz Hille (1942–1945)
- Hanns Grewenig (1947–1952)
- Heinrich Richter Bronhm (1957–1960)
- Herbert Quandt (1960–1970)[50]
- Eberhard von Kuenheim (1970–1993)[51]
- Bernd Pischetsrieder (1993–1999)
- Joachim Milberg (1999–2002)[52]
- Helmut Panke (2002–2006)[53]
- Norbert Reithofer (2006–2015)[54]
- Harald Krüger (2015–2019)[55]
- Oliver Zipse (2019–2026)[56]
- Milan Nedeljkovic (starting from May 2026)[57]
Corporate affairs
The key trends of the BMW Group are (as at the financial year ending December 31):[59][60][61][62]
Motorcycles
BMW began production of motorcycle engines and then motorcycles after World War I.[64] Its motorcycle brand is now known as BMW Motorrad. Their first successful motorcycle after the failed Helios and Flink, was the "R32" in 1923, though production originally began in 1921.[65] This had a "boxer" twin engine, in which a cylinder projects into the air-flow from each side of the machine. Apart from its single-cylinder models (basically to the same pattern), all its motorcycles used this distinctive layout until the early 1980s. Many BMW's are still produced in this layout, which is designated the R Series.
The entire BMW Motorcycle production line has, since 1969, been located at the company's Berlin-Spandau factory.
During the Second World War, BMW produced the BMW R75 motorcycle with a motor-driven sidecar attached. Combined with a lockable differential, the vehicle was very capable off-road.[66]
In 1982 came the K Series, with a shaft drive but water-cooled and with either three or four cylinders mounted in a straight line from front to back. Shortly after, BMW also started making the chain-driven F and G series with single and parallel twin Rotax engines.
In the early 1990s, BMW updated the airhead Boxer engine which became known as the oilhead. In 2002, the oilhead engine had two spark plugs per cylinder. In 2004 it added a built-in balance shaft, an increased capacity to 1170 cc and enhanced performance to 75 kW for the R1200GS, compared to 63 kW of the previous R1150GS. More powerful variants of the oilhead engines are available in the R1100S and R1200S, producing 73 and 91 kW, respectively.
In 2004, BMW introduced the new K1200S Sports Bike which marked a departure for BMW. It had an engine producing 125 kW, derived from the company's work with the Williams F1 team, and is lighter than previous K models. Innovations include electronically adjustable front and rear suspension, and a Hossack-type front fork that BMW calls Duolever.
BMW introduced anti-lock brakes on production motorcycles starting in the late 1980s. The generation of anti-lock brakes available on the 2006 and later BMW motorcycles paved the way for the introduction of electronic stability control, or anti-skid technology later in the 2007 model year.
BMW has been an innovator in motorcycle suspension design, taking up telescopic front suspension long before most other manufacturers. Then it switched to an Earles fork, front suspension by swinging fork (1955 to 1969). Most modern BMWs are truly rear swingarm, single sided at the back (compare with the regular swinging fork usually, and wrongly, called swinging arm). Some BMWs started using yet another trademark front suspension design, the Telelever, in the early 1990s. Like the Earles fork, the Telelever significantly reduces dive under braking.[67]
BMW Group, on 31 January 2013, announced that Pierer Industrie AG has bought Husqvarna Motorcycles for an undisclosed amount, which will not be revealed by either party in the future. The company is headed by Stephan Pierer (CEO of KTM). Pierer Industrie AG is 51% owner of KTM and 100% owner of Husqvarna.
In September 2018, BMW unveiled a new self-driving motorcycle with BMW Motorrad with a goal of using the technology to help improve road safety.[68] The design of the bike was inspired by the company's BMW R1200 GS model.[69]
Automobiles
Current models
The current model lines of BMW cars are:
- 1 Series five-door hatchbacks (model code F70).
- 2 Series two-door coupes (model code G42), "Active Tourer" five-seat MPVs (U06), four-door "Gran Coupe" sedans (model code F74) and long-wheelbase model exclusive to China (F78).
- 3 Series four-door sedans (model code G20), five-door station wagons (G21) and long-wheelbase model exclusive to China (G28).
- 4 Series two-door coupes (model code G22), two-door convertibles (model code G23) and five-door "Gran Coupe" fastbacks (model code G26).
- 5 Series four-door sedans (model code G60), five-door station wagons (G61) and long-wheelbase model exclusive to China (G68).
- 7 Series four-door sedans (model code G70).
- 8 Series two-door convertibles (model code G14), two-door coupes (G15) and four-door "Gran Coupe" sedans (G16).
i models
All-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles are sold under the BMW i sub-brand. The current model range consists of:
In addition, several plug-in hybrid models built on existing platforms have been marketed as iPerformance models. Examples include the 225xe using a 1.5 L three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor, the 330e/530e using a 2.0 L four-cylinder engine with an electric motor,[70][71] and the 550e/750e using a 3.0 L six-cylinder engine with an electric motor.[71][72] Also, crossover and SUV plug-in hybrid models have been released using i technology: X1 xDrive25e, X2 xDrive25e, X3 xDrive30e, and X5 xDrive40e.[73]
M models
The BMW M GmbH subsidiary (called BMW Motorsport GmbH until 1993) started making high-performance versions of various BMW models in 1978.
As of, the M lineup is:[74]
The letter "M" is also often used in the marketing of BMW's regular models, for example the F20 M140i model, the G11 M760Li model and various optional extras called "M Sport", "M Performance" or similar.
i models
All-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles are sold under the BMW i sub-brand. The current model range consists of:
In addition, several plug-in hybrid models built on existing platforms have been marketed as iPerformance models. Examples include the 225xe using a 1.5 L three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor, the 330e/530e using a 2.0 L four-cylinder engine with an electric motor,[70][71] and the 550e/750e using a 3.0 L six-cylinder engine with an electric motor.[71][72] Also, crossover and SUV plug-in hybrid models have been released using i technology: X1 xDrive25e, X2 xDrive25e, X3 xDrive30e, and X5 xDrive40e.[73]
M models
The BMW M GmbH subsidiary (called BMW Motorsport GmbH until 1993) started making high-performance versions of various BMW models in 1978.
As of, the M lineup is:[74]
The letter "M" is also often used in the marketing of BMW's regular models, for example the F20 M140i model, the G11 M760Li model and various optional extras called "M Sport", "M Performance" or similar.
Naming convention for models
Motorsport
BMW has a long history of motorsport activities, including:
- Touring cars, such as DTM, WTCC, ETCC and BTCC
- Formula One
- Endurance racing, such as 24 Hours Nürburgring, 24 Hours of Le Mans, 24 Hours of Daytona and Spa 24 Hours
- Isle of Man TT
- Dakar Rally
- American Le Mans Series
- IMSA SportsCar Championship
- Formula BMW, a junior racing Formula category
- Formula Two
- Formula E
- Superbike World Championship
Involvement in the arts
Architecture
The global BMW Headquarters in Munich is designed after the cylinder head of a four-cylinder engine. It was designed by Karl Schwanzer and was completed in 1972. The building has become a European icon and was declared a protected historic building in 1999. The main tower consists of four vertical cylinders standing next to and across from each other. Each cylinder is divided horizontally in its center by a mold in the facade. Notably, these cylinders do not stand on the ground; they are suspended from a central support tower.
BMW Museum is a futuristic cauldron-shaped building, which was also designed by Karl Schwanzer and opened in 1972.[78] The interior has a spiral theme and the roof is a 40-metre diameter BMW logo.
BMW Welt, the company's exhibition space in Munich, was designed by Coop Himmelb(l)au and opened in 2007. It includes a showroom and lifting platforms where a customer's new car is theatrically unveiled to the customer.[79]
Art Cars
In 1975, sculptor Alexander Calder was commissioned to paint the BMW 3.0 CSL racing car driven by Hervé Poulain at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which became the first in the series of BMW Art Cars. Since Calder's work of art, many other renowned artists throughout the world have created BMW Art Cars, including David Hockney, Jenny Holzer, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg, Frank Stella, and Andy Warhol.[80] To date, a total of 19 BMW Art Cars, based on both racing and regular production vehicles, have been created.
Visual arts
BMW sponsors a number of awards in the visual arts. These include the BMW Art Journey award, which honors a young or mid-career artist in collaboration with Art Basel, and the BMW Painting Award, which was created to promote painting in Spain by finding new talent and showcasing their work.[81][82]
BMW was the principal sponsor of the 1998 The Art of the Motorcycle exhibition at various Guggenheim museums, though the financial relationship between BMW and the Guggenheim Foundation was criticised in many quarters.[83][84]
In 2012, BMW began sponsoring Independent Collectors production of the BMW Art Guide, which is the first global guide to private and publicly accessible collections of contemporary art worldwide.[85] The fourth edition, released in 2016, features 256 collections from 43 countries.[86]
Production and sales
BMW produces complete automobiles in the following countries:
BMW also has local assembly operation using complete knock-down (CKD) components in Brazil, Thailand, Russia, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia and India.[90]
In the UK, BMW has a Mini factory near Oxford, plants in Swindon and Hams Hall, and Rolls-Royce vehicle assembly at Goodwood. In 2020, these facilities were shut down for the period from 23 March to 17 April due to the coronavirus outbreak.[91]
The BMW group (including Mini and Rolls-Royce) produced 1,366,838 automobiles in 2006 and then 1,481,253 automobiles in 2010.[92] BMW Motorcycles are being produced at the company's Berlin factory, which earlier had produced aircraft engines for Siemens.
By 2011, about 56% of BMW-brand vehicles produced were powered by petrol engines and the remaining 44% by diesel engines. Of those petrol vehicles, about 27% were four-cylinder models and about nine percent are eight-cylinder models, the overwhelming majority being sixes.[93] On average, 9,000 vehicles per day exit BMW plants, and 63% are transported by rail.[94]
Annual production since 2005, according to BMW's annual reports:[95]
Annual sales and deliveries since 1972, according to BMW's annual reports:
* In 2008–2012, motorcycle productions figures include Husqvarna models. ** Excluding Husqvarna, sales volume up to 2013: 59,776 units.
Recalls
In November 2016, BMW recalled 136,000 2007–2012 model year U.S. cars for fuel pump wiring problems possibly resulting in fuel leak and engine stalling or restarting issues.[96]
In 2018, BMW recalled 106,000 diesel vehicles in South Korea with a defective exhaust gas recirculation module, which caused 39 engine fires. The recall was then expanded to 324,000 more cars in Europe.[97] Following the recall in South Korea, the government banned cars which had not yet been inspected from driving on public roads.[98] This affected up to 25% of the recalled cars, where the owners had been notified but the cars had not yet been inspected. BMW is reported to have been aware since 2016 that more than 4% of the affected cars in South Korea had experienced failures in the EGR coolers,[99] leading to approximately 20 owners suing the company.[100]
Industry collaboration
BMW has collaborated with other car manufacturers on the following occasions:
- McLaren Automotive: BMW designed and produced the V12 engine that powered the McLaren F1.[101][102]
- Groupe PSA (predecessor to Stellantis): Joint production of four-cylinder petrol engines, beginning in 2004.[103]
- Daimler Benz: Joint venture to produce the hybrid drivetrain components used in the ActiveHybrid 7.[104][105] Development of automated driving technology.[106]
- Toyota: Three-part agreement in 2013 to jointly develop fuel cell technology, develop a joint platform for a sports car (for the 2018 BMW Z4 (G29) and Toyota Supra) and research lithium-air batteries.[107][108][109]
- Audi and Mercedes: Joint purchase of Nokia's Here WeGo (formerly Here Maps) in 2015.[110]
- In 2018, Horizn Studios collaborated with BMW to launch special luggage editions.[111]
Sponsorships
BMW made a six-year sponsorship deal with the United States Olympic Committee in July 2010.[112][113]
In golf, BMW has sponsored various events,[114] including the PGA Championship since 2007,[115][116] the Italian Open from 2009 to 2012, the BMW Masters in China from 2012 to 2015[117][118] and the BMW International Open in Munich since 1989.[119]
In rugby, BMW sponsored the South Africa national rugby union team from 2011 to 2015.[120][121]
Car-sharing services
DriveNow was a joint-venture between BMW and Sixt that operated in Europe from 2011 until 2019. By December 2012,[122] DriveNow operated over 1,000 vehicles, in five cities and with approximately 60,000 customers.[123]
In 2012, the BMW-owned subsidiary Alphabet began a corporate car-sharing service in Europe called AlphaCity.[124][125]
The ReachNow car-sharing service was launched in Seattle in April 2016.[126] ReachNow currently operates in Seattle, Portland and Brooklyn.
In 2018, BMW announced the launching of a pilot car subscription service for the United States called Access by BMW (its first one for the country), in Nashville, Tennessee. In January 2021, the company said that Access by BMW was "suspended".[127]
Overseas subsidiaries
Production facilities
China
The first BMW production facility in China was opened in 2004, as a result of a joint venture between BMW and Brilliance Auto.[128][129] The plant was opened in the Shenyang industrial area and produces 3 Series and 5 Series models for the Chinese market.[130][131] In 2012, a second factory was opened in Shenyang.[132]
Between January and November 2014, BMW sold 415,200 vehicles in China, through a network of over 440 BMW stores and 100 Mini stores.[133]
On 7 October 2021, BMW announced it would begin additional production of the X5 in China.[55]
In February 2022, BMW invested an additional $4.2 billion into the Chinese joint venture, increasing its stake from 50% to 75%, becoming one of the first foreign automakers holding majority stake in China.[134]
In June 2022, BMW announced a new plant project in Lydia, Shenyang designed for electric vehicles. It will become BMW Group's largest single project in China, costing 15 billion yuan (2.13 billion euros).[135] The investment amount was raised by a further 10 billion yuan (US$1.4 billion) in November 2022, following German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's visit to China.[136]
Hungary
On 31 July 2018, BMW announced to build a 1 billion euro car factory in Hungary. The plant, to be built near Debrecen, will have a production capacity of 150,000 cars a year.[137]
Mexico
In July 2014, BMW announced it was establishing a plant in Mexico, in the city and state of San Luis Potosí involving an investment of $1 billion. The plant will employ 1,500 people, and produce 150,000 cars annually.[138]
Netherlands
The Mini Convertible, Mini Countryman and BMW X1 were produced in the Netherlands at the VDL Nedcar factory in Born up until its closure on February 16, 2024.[139][140][141] The factory was closed after BMW did not renew its contract with VDL Nedcar.[142] Long-term orders for the Mini Countryman ended in 2020.[143]
South Africa
BMWs have been assembled in South Africa since 1968,[144] when Praetor Monteerders' plant was opened in Rosslyn, near Pretoria. BMW initially bought shares in the company, before fully acquiring it in 1975; in so doing, the company became BMW South Africa, the first wholly owned subsidiary of BMW to be established outside Germany. Unlike United States manufacturers, such as Ford and GM, which divested from the country in the 1980s, BMW retained full ownership of its operations in South Africa.
Following the end of apartheid in 1994, and the lowering of import tariffs, BMW South Africa ended local production of the 5 Series and 7 Series, in order to concentrate on production of the 3 Series for the export market. South African–built BMWs are now exported to right hand drive markets including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong, as well as Sub-Saharan Africa. Since 1997, BMW South Africa has produced vehicles in left-hand drive for export to Taiwan, the United States and Iran, as well as South America.
Three unique models that BMW Motorsport created for the South African market were the E23 M745i (1983), which used the M88 engine from the BMW M1, the BMW 333i (1986), which added a six-cylinder 3.2-litre M30 engine to the E30,[145] and the E30 BMW 325is (1989) which was powered by an Alpina-derived 2.7-litre engine.
The plant code (position 11 in the VIN) for South African built models is "N".[146]
United States
BMW cars have been officially sold in the United States since 1956[147] and manufactured in the United States since 1994.[148] The first BMW dealership in the United States opened in 1975.[149] In 2016, BMW was the twelfth highest selling brand in the United States.[150]
The manufacturing plant in Greer, South Carolina has the highest production of the BMW plants worldwide,[151] currently producing approximately 1,500 vehicles per day.[152] The models produced at the Spartanburg plant are the X3, X4, X5, X6, X7 and XM SUV models.
In addition to the South Carolina manufacturing facility, BMW's North American companies include sales, marketing, design, and financial services operations in the United States, Mexico, Canada and Latin America.
China
The first BMW production facility in China was opened in 2004, as a result of a joint venture between BMW and Brilliance Auto.[128][129] The plant was opened in the Shenyang industrial area and produces 3 Series and 5 Series models for the Chinese market.[130][131] In 2012, a second factory was opened in Shenyang.[132]
Between January and November 2014, BMW sold 415,200 vehicles in China, through a network of over 440 BMW stores and 100 Mini stores.[133]
On 7 October 2021, BMW announced it would begin additional production of the X5 in China.[55]
In February 2022, BMW invested an additional $4.2 billion into the Chinese joint venture, increasing its stake from 50% to 75%, becoming one of the first foreign automakers holding majority stake in China.[134]
In June 2022, BMW announced a new plant project in Lydia, Shenyang designed for electric vehicles. It will become BMW Group's largest single project in China, costing 15 billion yuan (2.13 billion euros).[135] The investment amount was raised by a further 10 billion yuan (US$1.4 billion) in November 2022, following German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's visit to China.[136]
Hungary
On 31 July 2018, BMW announced to build a 1 billion euro car factory in Hungary. The plant, to be built near Debrecen, will have a production capacity of 150,000 cars a year.[137]
Mexico
In July 2014, BMW announced it was establishing a plant in Mexico, in the city and state of San Luis Potosí involving an investment of $1 billion. The plant will employ 1,500 people, and produce 150,000 cars annually.[138]
Netherlands
The Mini Convertible, Mini Countryman and BMW X1 were produced in the Netherlands at the VDL Nedcar factory in Born up until its closure on February 16, 2024.[139][140][141] The factory was closed after BMW did not renew its contract with VDL Nedcar.[142] Long-term orders for the Mini Countryman ended in 2020.[143]
South Africa
BMWs have been assembled in South Africa since 1968,[144] when Praetor Monteerders' plant was opened in Rosslyn, near Pretoria. BMW initially bought shares in the company, before fully acquiring it in 1975; in so doing, the company became BMW South Africa, the first wholly owned subsidiary of BMW to be established outside Germany. Unlike United States manufacturers, such as Ford and GM, which divested from the country in the 1980s, BMW retained full ownership of its operations in South Africa.
Following the end of apartheid in 1994, and the lowering of import tariffs, BMW South Africa ended local production of the 5 Series and 7 Series, in order to concentrate on production of the 3 Series for the export market. South African–built BMWs are now exported to right hand drive markets including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong, as well as Sub-Saharan Africa. Since 1997, BMW South Africa has produced vehicles in left-hand drive for export to Taiwan, the United States and Iran, as well as South America.
Three unique models that BMW Motorsport created for the South African market were the E23 M745i (1983), which used the M88 engine from the BMW M1, the BMW 333i (1986), which added a six-cylinder 3.2-litre M30 engine to the E30,[145] and the E30 BMW 325is (1989) which was powered by an Alpina-derived 2.7-litre engine.
The plant code (position 11 in the VIN) for South African built models is "N".[146]
United States
BMW cars have been officially sold in the United States since 1956[147] and manufactured in the United States since 1994.[148] The first BMW dealership in the United States opened in 1975.[149] In 2016, BMW was the twelfth highest selling brand in the United States.[150]
The manufacturing plant in Greer, South Carolina has the highest production of the BMW plants worldwide,[151] currently producing approximately 1,500 vehicles per day.[152] The models produced at the Spartanburg plant are the X3, X4, X5, X6, X7 and XM SUV models.
In addition to the South Carolina manufacturing facility, BMW's North American companies include sales, marketing, design, and financial services operations in the United States, Mexico, Canada and Latin America.
Complete knock-down assembly facilities
Brazil
On 9 October 2014, BMW's new complete knock-down (CKD) assembly plant in Araquari, assembled its first car— an F30 3 Series.[153][154]
The cars assembled at Araquari are the F20 1 Series, F30 3 Series, F48 X1, F25 X3 and Mini Countryman.[155]
Egypt
Bavarian Auto Group became the importer of the BMW and Mini brands in 2003.
Since 2005, the 3 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series, X1 and X3 models sold in Egypt are assembled from complete knock-down components at the BMW plant in Cairo.[155]
India
BMW India was established in 2006 as a sales subsidiary with a head office located in Gurugram.
A BMW complete knock-down assembly plant was opened in Chennai in 2007, assembling Indian-market 3 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series, X1, X3, X5, Mini Countryman and motorcycle models.[155][156] The 20 Million Euro plant aims to produce 1,700 cars per year.
Indonesia
PT. BMW Indonesia was established in 2001 as a subsidiary with a head office located in Central Jakarta. It was managed by PT. Astra International.
10 years later in 2011, BMW Group invested more than 100 Billion Indonesian rupiah to expand its production, by establish the complete knock-down (CKD) assembly plant in Gaya Motor's production facility in Sunter, Jakarta. the plant is currently assembling Indonesian-market 2 Series (gran coupé), 3 Series (sedan), 5 Series (sedan), 7 Series, X1, X3, X5, X7, and Mini Countryman.
Malaysia
BMW's complete knock-down (CKD) assembly plant in Kedah. Assembled Malaysia-market 1 Series, 3 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series, X1, X3, X4, X5, X6 and Mini Countryman since 2008.[157]
Russia
Russian-market 3 Series and 5 Series cars are assembled from complete knock-down components in Kaliningrad beginning in 1999.[158] In March 2022, BMW withdrew from the Russian market and ceased production within Russia in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[159]
Uruguay
In Uruguay, Spanish-born businessman José Arijón founded Convex (later Camur), which assembled BMW cars from 1965 to 1992. Four models were produced: the 1600, 2002, 3 Series and 5 Series, totalling 12,000 units.[160][161]
Brazil
On 9 October 2014, BMW's new complete knock-down (CKD) assembly plant in Araquari, assembled its first car— an F30 3 Series.[153][154]
The cars assembled at Araquari are the F20 1 Series, F30 3 Series, F48 X1, F25 X3 and Mini Countryman.[155]
Egypt
Bavarian Auto Group became the importer of the BMW and Mini brands in 2003.
Since 2005, the 3 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series, X1 and X3 models sold in Egypt are assembled from complete knock-down components at the BMW plant in Cairo.[155]
India
BMW India was established in 2006 as a sales subsidiary with a head office located in Gurugram.
A BMW complete knock-down assembly plant was opened in Chennai in 2007, assembling Indian-market 3 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series, X1, X3, X5, Mini Countryman and motorcycle models.[155][156] The 20 Million Euro plant aims to produce 1,700 cars per year.
Indonesia
PT. BMW Indonesia was established in 2001 as a subsidiary with a head office located in Central Jakarta. It was managed by PT. Astra International.
10 years later in 2011, BMW Group invested more than 100 Billion Indonesian rupiah to expand its production, by establish the complete knock-down (CKD) assembly plant in Gaya Motor's production facility in Sunter, Jakarta. the plant is currently assembling Indonesian-market 2 Series (gran coupé), 3 Series (sedan), 5 Series (sedan), 7 Series, X1, X3, X5, X7, and Mini Countryman.
Malaysia
BMW's complete knock-down (CKD) assembly plant in Kedah. Assembled Malaysia-market 1 Series, 3 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series, X1, X3, X4, X5, X6 and Mini Countryman since 2008.[157]
Russia
Russian-market 3 Series and 5 Series cars are assembled from complete knock-down components in Kaliningrad beginning in 1999.[158] In March 2022, BMW withdrew from the Russian market and ceased production within Russia in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[159]
Uruguay
In Uruguay, Spanish-born businessman José Arijón founded Convex (later Camur), which assembled BMW cars from 1965 to 1992. Four models were produced: the 1600, 2002, 3 Series and 5 Series, totalling 12,000 units.[160][161]
Vehicle importers
Canada
BMW's first dealership in Canada, located in Ottawa, was opened in 1969.[162] In 1986, BMW established a head office in Canada.[163]
BMW sold 28,149 vehicles in Canada in 2008.[164]
Japan
BMW Japan Corp, a wholly owned subsidiary, imports and distributes BMW vehicles in Japan.[165]
Philippines
BMW Philippines, an owned subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation, is the official importer and distributor of BMW in the Philippines.[166]
BMW sold 920 vehicles in the Philippines in 2019.[167]
Korea
BMW Korea imports BMW vehicles in South Korea with more than fifty service centers to fully cater to South Korean customers. BMW Korea has its own driving center near Incheon International Airport.[168]
Singapore
BMW car represented almost 10% of all new cars registered in 2025, making it the third most popular car brand.[169]
Canada
BMW's first dealership in Canada, located in Ottawa, was opened in 1969.[162] In 1986, BMW established a head office in Canada.[163]
BMW sold 28,149 vehicles in Canada in 2008.[164]
Japan
BMW Japan Corp, a wholly owned subsidiary, imports and distributes BMW vehicles in Japan.[165]
Philippines
BMW Philippines, an owned subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation, is the official importer and distributor of BMW in the Philippines.[166]
BMW sold 920 vehicles in the Philippines in 2019.[167]
Korea
BMW Korea imports BMW vehicles in South Korea with more than fifty service centers to fully cater to South Korean customers. BMW Korea has its own driving center near Incheon International Airport.[168]
Singapore
BMW car represented almost 10% of all new cars registered in 2025, making it the third most popular car brand.[169]
Criticism
BMW has received criticism for attempting to lock vehicle hardware features behind subscription fees. In 2018, BMW stated at the Detroit Auto Show that it will start charging users a subscription fee for Apple Car Play. After receiving widespread criticism, BMW removed the subscription.[170][171] In 2022, BMW announced that it will start charging owners $18 a month to use heated seats.[172] They removed the feature in 2023 after it was criticised.[173]
See also
- BMW Group Classic
- List of BMW engines
Further reading
External links
References
- Tony Lewin. The BMW Century: The Ultimate Performance Machines Motorbooks, November 2016^
- BMW Group Report 2023 BMW AG, retrieved 2 September 2024^
- BMW shares. Mikaeel Collier (100%) Shareholder structure www.bmwgroup.com, retrieved 11 July 2023^
- BMW Group Report 2025 BMW Group, retrieved 2026-04-15^
- Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft OpenCorporates, 12 December 1995, retrieved 2 July 2025^
- Tony Lewin. The BMW Century: The Ultimate Performance Machines Motorbooks, November 2016^
- History BMW AG, retrieved 2021-08-10^
- 2023 Worldwide Car Sales by Manufacturer F&I Tools USA, 2023, retrieved 1 May 2024^
- Umsatz der weltweit führenden Automobilhersteller Statista^
- The Global 2000 2023 Forbes, retrieved 2024-02-07^
- Tegenslag voor Nedcar: BMW stopt in 2023 met de productie in Born nos.nl, 15 October 2020^
- Horsepower under the hood and skeletons in the closet: BMW celebrates 100 years Deutsche Welle, 2016^
- BMW, Mercedes pivot from enemies to partners in new auto era The Times of India, 2018-12-20, retrieved 2024-12-17^
- Mercedes Fully Owned Audi In 1959 When It Nearly Bought BMW Motor1.com, retrieved 2025-01-14^
- BMW and the Holocaust Jewish Virtual Library, American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise^
- Forced Labor: Varta Battery Factories Jewish Virtual Library, American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise^
- "BMW's Quandt Family to Investigate Wealth Amassed in Third Reich". Der Spiegel. 2007.^
- "BMW 2002 turbo". . BMW Group. Retrieved 26 August 2020.^
- "BMW 1602 Elektro". . BMW. Retrieved 26 August 2020.^
- Usine Digitale. BMW et Daimler regroupent leurs services de mobilité usine digitale, 28 March 2018^
- Oliver Zipse appointed new Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG press bmw group^
- BMW sales fall 8.4% in 2020 as coronavirus takes toll Reuters, 12 January 2021, retrieved 12 January 2021^
- Martin Haider. Electrifying Times: restructuring and decision-making in an automobile concern in the 21st century – The case of BMW Group Hungarian Geographical Bulletin, 2020-06-30^
- Prasanna Kumar Kukkamalla, Andrea Bikfalvi, Anna Arbussa. The new BMW: business model innovation transforms an automotive leader Journal of Business Strategy, 2021-07-07^
- Brian Silvestro. BMW Waves Goodbye to the V-12 With a Final Edition M760Li Road & Track, Hearst Communications, 18 January 2022^
- Angel Sergeev. Rolls-Royce CEO Retires, Chris Brownridge Named New Boss motor1, October 5, 2023, retrieved 5 October 2023^
- https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T0447286EN/bmw-group-scores-circular-economy-win-with-high-voltage-batteries^
- https://www.sktes.com/press-release/sk-tes-partners-with-bmw-group-on-battery-recycling^
- Arjun Kharpal. Qualcomm unveils driverless tech with BMW, sees 'domino effect' of customers CNBC, 2025-09-10, retrieved 2025-12-09^
- Growth in EU private R&D investment slows sciencebusiness.net, retrieved 2026-04-01^
- Hans List: ''Vorwort und Einführung zum Gesamtwerk. Band 1 von Die Verbrennungskraftmaschine'', Springer, Wien, 1949. ISBN 9783662294888. Verzeichnis der Abkürzungen^
- Roland Löwisch: BMW - Die schönsten Modelle: 100 Jahre Design und Technik' by azar. HEEL, 2016, ISBN 9783958434066. p 7.^
- BMW 1970s brochure for the United States www.bmw-grouparchiv.de, retrieved 10 February 2018^
- Bee em / BMW Motorcycle Club of Victoria Inc National Library of Australia, retrieved 23 October 2009^
- No Toupees allowed Bangkok Post, 2 October 2009, retrieved 24 October 2009^
- Jonathan E. Lighter. Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang: A-G Random House, 1994^
- Jonathan E. Lighter. Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang: A-G Random House, 1994^
- 1982 S. Black Totally Awesome 83 BMW ("Beemer"). 1985 L.A. Times (13 April) V 4: Id much rather drive my Beemer than a truck. 1989 L. Roberts Full Cleveland 39: Baby boomers... in... late-model Beemers. 1990 Hull High (NBC-TV): You should ee my dad's new Beemer. 1991 Cathy (synd. cartoon strip) (21 April): Sheila... [ground] multi-grain snack chips crumbs into the back seat of my brand-new Beamer! 1992 Time (18 May) 84: Its residents tend to drive pickups or subcompacts, not Beemers or Rolles.^
- The BMW Logo – meaning and history BMW, retrieved 20 August 2021^
- BMW. The origin of the BMW logo YouTube, 5 June 2010, retrieved 29 December 2011^
- Stephen Williams. BMW Roundel: Not Born From Planes The New York Times, 7 January 2010, retrieved 29 December 2011^
- BMW changes logo for the digital age, Retrieved 8 March 2020^
- Introducing BMW's new brand design for online and offline communication www.press.bmwgroup.com, retrieved 5 March 2020^
- Chaim Gartenberg. BMW's new flat logo is everything that's wrong with modern logo design The Verge, 4 March 2020, retrieved 5 March 2020^
- The Stories Behind 10 of the Most Iconic Brand Slogans www.highsnobiety.com, 7 April 2015, retrieved 2 November 2017^
- Can Lutz repeat his BMW marketing magic at GM? www.autonews.com, retrieved 2 November 2017^
- The Ultimate Ad Slogan: BMW becomes the Ultimate Driving Machine BMW USA News, February 10, 2025^
- BMW Still the Ultimate Driving Machine Forbes.com, 31 May 2012, retrieved 29 September 2013^
- Madrid Yearly Review 2024^
- https://bmwcarclubgb.uk/2020/04/08/straight-six-throwback-bmw-the-company-in-the-uk-1960-to-1980/#:~:text=The%20injection%20of%20new%20capital,than%20just%20deal%20in%20cars.^
- The Prussian noble who molded BMW Automotive News, retrieved 6 August 2025^
- Brian Coleman. BMW's Chairman Resigns; Milberg Is Named as Successor The Wall Street Journal, 8 February 1999, retrieved 6 August 2025^
- Helmut Panke European CEO, retrieved 6 August 2025^
- Dr. Norbert Reithofer to Succeed Helmut Panke as BMW Chairman mwerks.com^
- Stocks Bloomberg.com, retrieved 2017-09-05^
- Oliver Sachgau. BMW's new CEO brings steeliness to chart electric-car course The Detroit News, 21 July 2019, retrieved 6 August 2025^
- Stephen Wilmot. BMW Names New Boss to Guide It Through Industry Upheaval The Wall Street Journal, 2025-12-09, retrieved 2026-02-21^
- BMW AG: Shareholders Board Members Managers and Company Profile www.marketscreener.com, retrieved 2024-03-20^
- BMW St Fundamentalanalyse boerse.de, retrieved 2023-11-29^
- BMW Fundamentals (2007-2015) 2017-02-14, retrieved 2024-08-02^
- BMW Fundamentals (2013-2021) 2022-12-08, retrieved 2024-08-02^
- Company Reports www.bmwgroup.com, retrieved 2023-11-29^
- BMW Group: Car shipments yearly Statista, retrieved 2024-08-02^
- Peter Gantriis, Henry Von Wartenberg. "The Art of BMW: 85 Years of Motorcycling Excellence". MotorBooks International, September 2008, p. 10.^
- What is the history of BMW motorcycles in the USA? retrieved 6 May 2017^
- R75WH 30 November 2018, retrieved 4 February 2020^
- BMW Telelever Explained www.motorbikestoday.com, retrieved 2025-01-14^
- Sean O'Kane. BMW made a self-driving motorcycle The Verge, 12 September 2018, retrieved 30 May 2019^
- Jean Baptiste Su. BMW Unveils The First Driverless Motorcycle Forbes, 14 September 2018, retrieved 30 May 2019^
- Electrified by BMW i - BMW iPerformance: Plug-in hybrids with BMW i know-how BMW Group, November 2016, retrieved 3 November 2016^
- Electrification completed: New BMW 5 Series Sedan now also available with plug-in hybrid drive. www.press.bmwgroup.com, retrieved 2024-01-22^
- Progress and efficiency with added variety: additional drive system variants and innovations for the new BMW 7 Series. www.press.bmwgroup.com, retrieved 2024-01-22^
- The 330e and 530e are available as sedan or saloon and wagon or touring trims. BMW Plug-in Hybrid Models BMW UK, 19 May 2020, retrieved 20 June 2020^
- BMW M models BMW USA, retrieved 2 September 2022^
- The Next-Generation BMW X5 M Could Debut Early In 2020 www.carbuzz.com, 30 December 2017, retrieved 29 July 2019^
- 2020 BMW X6 (G06) Spied In Spartanburg www.autoevolution.com, 25 June 2018, retrieved 29 July 2019^
- bmwusa.com^
- Stephen Williams. Touring the Temples of German Automaking The New York Times, 31 December 2009, retrieved 21 October 2017^
- Bernd Schmitt, Glenn Van Zutphen. Happy Customers Everywhere: How Your Business Can Profit from the Insights of Positive Psychology Macmillan, 2012^
- Phil Patton. These Canvases Need Oil and a Good Driver 12 March 2009^
- The Short List Is in for the 2021 Edition of the BMW Art Journey Initiative. And the Nominees Are... Artnet News, 21 May 2021, retrieved 19 May 2023^
- The BMW Painting Award Acciona Cultura, retrieved 19 May 2023^
- When merchants enter the temple; Marketing museums The Economist, 21 April 2001, retrieved 8 August 2009^
- Carol Vogel. Latest Biker Hangout? Guggenheim Ramp The New York Times, 3 August 1998^
- About the Guide – "I don't think anybody has been to all these places." www.bmw-art-guide.com, retrieved 26 February 2017^
- HYPERALLERGIC: The Fourth BMW Art Guide by Independent Collectors 13 December 2016, retrieved 30 June 2019^
- BMW increasing Spartanburg production to 200,000 yearly BMW Car Club of America^
- Contact Us www.bmwusfactory.com, retrieved 28 April 2018^
- BMW Group Plant San Luis Potosi retrieved 16 November 2018^
- BMW Group Production BMW Customer Service, May 2005, retrieved February 17, 2026^
- Almost all UK car production paused amid virus fears BBC News, 18 March 2020, retrieved 19 March 2020^
- World Motor Vehicle Production, OICA correspondents survey 2006 retrieved 28 August 2010^
- Hilton Holloway. The future of BMW's engines Autocar, 11 February 2011^
- Christopher Ludwig. BMW's 'connected' logistics: Shaping a self-steering supply chain Automotive Logistics, 22 December 2016, retrieved 6 April 2017^
- Annual Report 2010 BMW Group, retrieved 16 March 2011^
- Clifford Atiyeh. BMW Recalls 136,000 Cars for Fuel Leaks and Stalling Car and Driver, November 2016, retrieved 14 August 2018^
- Noel Randewich, Kate Duguid. BMW recalls 324,000 cars in Europe after Korean engine fires: FAZ Reuters, 7 August 2018, retrieved 13 August 2018^
- Jethro Mullen. BMW Recall: South Korea announces ban after engine fires CNN, 14 August 2018, retrieved 16 October 2018^
- BMW코리아 '시정계획서'엔…2년 전 결함 인지→본사 보고까지 : 네이버 뉴스 www.naver.com, retrieved 30 July 2019^
- BMW코리아·본사가 결함 은폐해온 의혹" 차주들, 고소 나선다 : 네이버 뉴스 www.naver.com, retrieved 30 July 2019^
- McLaren F1 Supercar www.caranddriver.com, retrieved 5 October 2017^
- Jay Leno Pulls Out McLaren F1's V12 Engine for All to See www.carscoops.com, retrieved 5 October 2017^
- PSA, BMW Collaboration Grows www.wardsauto.com, 19 January 2007, retrieved 5 October 2017^
- 2010 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 Review www.topspeed.com, 13 August 2009, retrieved 5 October 2017^
- 2010 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 – Official Information www.bmwblog.com, 12 August 2009, retrieved 5 October 2017^
- BMW and Daimler to develop automated driving tech KERO, 5 July 2019, retrieved 8 July 2019^
- BMW Group and Toyota Motor Corporation Deepen Collaboration by Signing Binding Agreements www.bmwgroup.com, retrieved 5 October 2017^
- BMW, Toyota Confirm Hydrogen Fuel Cell, Technology Deals 24 January 2013^
- BMW and Toyota sign Agreement for Fuel Cell System, Sports Vehicle, Lightweight Technology and Lithium-air Battery www.bmwblog.com, 24 January 2013, retrieved 5 October 2017^
- Nokia sells Here maps unit to Audi, BMW, and Mercedes for $3 billion www.theverge.com, 3 August 2015, retrieved 5 October 2017^
- Horizn Studios Introduces New Product Line vegconomist.com, 29 November 2018, retrieved 23 September 2019^
- BMW, USOC make 6-year sponsorship deal official www.teamusa.org, retrieved 7 October 2017^
- BMW to sponsor America's Olympic committee www.autonews.com, 23 July 2010, retrieved 7 October 2017^
- BMW Int'l Sponsorship Head Eckhard Wannieck Talks About Company's Sports Sponsorships www.sportsbusinessdaily.com, retrieved 7 October 2017^
- BMW extends sponsorship of BMW Championship www.pgatour.com, retrieved 7 October 2017^
- Sponsors www.pgatour.com, retrieved 7 October 2017^
- Who Does What: Automobile Manufacturers www.sponsorship.com, retrieved 7 October 2017^
- A Slow And Steady Course: Inside BMW's Sponsorship Strategy www.sponsorship.com, retrieved 7 October 2017^
- BMW extends sponsorship of Wentworth PGA event Sportbusiness.com, retrieved 28 July 2011^
- BMW named new Springbok sponsor www.supersport.com, retrieved 7 October 2017^
- BMW SA drops the Springboks www.wheels24.co.za, retrieved 9 March 2017^
- About DriveNow Car Sharing from BMW & Sixt www.drive-now.com, retrieved 27 June 2018^
- BMW Group takes top prize at the 2012 Corporate Entrepreneur Awards for premium car-sharing joint venture DriveNow. Jury impressed by willingness to trial new models of mobility Electricdrive.org, 30 October 2012, retrieved 29 September 2013^
- Alphabet Business Mobility solutions www.bmwgroup.com, retrieved 22 July 2019^
- Corporate car sharing scheme claims to be a first www.fleetnews.co.uk, retrieved 2 April 2012^
- ReachNow official website. "ReachNow | CarSharing by BMW, BMW i, MINI ." 8 May 2016.^
- Andrew J Hawkins. BMW becomes the latest automaker to shut down its subscription service The Verge, 14 January 2021, retrieved 25 April 2021^
- "General Overview", Brilliance Auto. .^
- BMW opens China factory TestDriven, 21 May 2004, retrieved 11 April 2009^
- Brands and Products – BMW Vehicles & SAVs Brilliance Auto, Dec 20, 2023^
- BMW launches new plant in Shenyang People's Daily Online, 21 May 2004, retrieved 11 July 2019^
- Nico Schmidt. BMW to Boost China Investment The Wall Street Journal, 24 May 2012, retrieved 28 October 2021^
- BMW to Pay $820 Million to China Car Dealers, Group Says Bloomberg News, 5 January 2015^
- Victoria Waldersee. BMW pays $4.2 BLN to take control of Chinese JV Reuters, 11 February 2022^
- BMW to open a new factory in Shenyang 23 June 2022^
- BMW confirms it will invest another US$1.4 billion in Chinese EV battery plant 14 November 2022^
- BMW to build 1 billion euro car factory in Hungary Reuters, retrieved 31 July 2018^
- Joining rivals, BMW to set up $1bn plant in Mexico Mexico Star, retrieved 28 June 2014^
- BMW Group Report 2020 BMW Group, March 2021, retrieved 23 May 2021^
- Nedcar rescue deal finalised Dutch News, 1 October 2012, retrieved 23 May 2021^
- VRT NWS. Laatste auto rolt van de band bij Nedcar in Born, ook honderden Belgen verliezen hun baan VRTNWS, 2024-02-16, retrieved 2025-09-08^
- Limburg factory that once built BMWs to become military production hub nltimes.nl, 2025-03-23, retrieved 2025-09-08^
- VDL Nedcar: no new follow-up order for MINI Countryman VDL Groep, 15 October 2020, retrieved 23 May 2021^
- Corporate Information: History BMW South Africa^
- BMW South Africa – Plant Rosslyn Bmwplant.co.za, retrieved 11 April 2009^
- Manufacturer's Information Dabase NHTSA^
- Isetta 300 model selection www.realoem.com, retrieved 26 October 2017^
- Company - History www.bmwgroup.com, retrieved 26 October 2017^
- This is how BMW became the top selling luxury car company in the U.S. www.fortune.com, retrieved 28 October 2017^
- Sales by Manufacturer www.edmunds.com, retrieved 26 October 2017^
- BMW Plant Spartanburg leads U.S. auto exports Roundel, BMW Car Club of America, April 2015^
- Production BMW Manufacturing Co., retrieved 27 December 2019^
- BMW Group assembles first car in Brazil press.bmwgroup.com, 9 October 2014, retrieved 21 December 2014^
- BMW Brazil to export X1 SUVs to US www.just-auto.com, retrieved 28 October 2017^
- BMW: Global growth www.automotivemanufacturingsolutions.com, retrieved 28 October 2017^
- International BMW website Bmw.in, 11 December 2006, retrieved 11 April 2009^
- BMW: Global growth Automotive Manufacturing Solutions, retrieved 28 October 2017^
- Production of new BMW 5 series begins in Kaliningrad Pravda.Ru, 29 March 2004^
- BMW приостанавливает производство и импорт автомобилей в Россию Интерфакс, 1 March 2022^
- Los 50 del 2002 Motorsports El País, 8 November 2018^
- Primer aniversario de la partida física de José Arijón Rama El País, 29 April 2019^
- The Otto's Story www.bmwottos.ca, retrieved 28 October 2017^
- In photos: The evolution and history of BMW as it turns 100 www.theglobeandmail.com, 7 March 2016, retrieved 28 October 2017^
- History of BMW Canada www.bmwlondon.ca, retrieved 28 October 2017^
- About BMW Japan Corp www.bmwcareer.jp, retrieved 28 October 2017^
- BMW Philippines retrieved 8 March 2020^
- Philippine auto industry reports 416,637 unit sales in 2019 autoindustriya.com, 3 February 2020, retrieved 3 February 2020^
- Introduction to BMW Korea retrieved 12 August 2019^
- BYD cements lead as Singapore's top-selling car brand as EV sales surge to 45% of new registrations CNA, retrieved 2026-03-12^
- BMW will drop its Apple CarPlay fees (updated) Engadget, 2019-12-04, retrieved 2025-01-14^
- Zac Estrada. Is BMW going to make you pay for Apple CarPlay every year? The Verge, 2018-01-16, retrieved 2025-01-14^
- James Vincent. BMW starts selling heated seat subscriptions for $18 a month The Verge, 2022-07-12, retrieved 2025-01-14^
- Andrew J. Hawkins. BMW drops plan to charge a monthly fee for heated seats The Verge, 2023-09-07, retrieved 2025-01-14^