History of the BMW
Driving a BMW is seen by most as a sign of wealth and status. But how did a company that has gone through several near tragedies manage to stay on top of its game and produce such beautiful and luxurious cars?
Let’s first look at what the initials stand for….BMW stands for Bayerische Motoren Werke or Bavarian Motor Works. Some people think that it means Babe Magnet Wagon, but while these cars are attention-getting machines, we will stick with the Bavarian Motor Works translation.
The origins of the famed BMW go all the way back to the year 1913. This is when a well-known Bavarian engineer, Karl Ropp, who was working in a German aircraft factory decided to create his own production company. His business became known as the original German Rapp Motoren Werke company.
He built his shop in a tiny suburb in Munich, Germany. Ropp specialized in aircraft engines; however, he had discovered that there were a lot of problems with these engines. He found that the terrible vibrations from the motors were damaging the engines from the moment they became operational.
Having secured a contract for the production of these same engines with the Austro-Daimler organization, he was soon unable to meet the demands of the contract. This was due to the issues that he had found in the design and structure of the engines. By 1916, Rapp was forced to resign from the company due to the overwhelming financial troubles. The company was taken over by two Austrians, Max Friz, and Franz Popp. That same year the company merged with another aircraft engine builder, Gustav Oto.
This man was one of the first flight pioneers in Bavaria and he had a factory that was involved in building small aircraft. With these two combined engineering groups working together, the possibilities seemed endless. On 13 August 1918, the new BMW AG was entered as a new company in the Commercial Register.
BMW has survived three events that could have caused any other company to come to ruin. The first of these events was the end of World War I. This had an impact on all aircraft manufacturers in Germany. For four years, the military had been placing hefty orders with engine and aircraft firms. Now, almost overnight, the phone had stopped ringing.
Due to the shortage of raw material such as metals and coal, plants were being forced to close. The Commissioner for Demobilization eventually forced the BMW-AG plant to close.
Employees coming to work were greeted by locked gates and were then sent away empty handed. When BMW reopened in 1919, it began to manufacture engines that would be profitable during peacetime, such as engines for boats, trucks, cars, and motorcycles. This plant was to suffer again after WWII.
At the end of WWII, BMW found several of its factories had been bombed leaving only rubble. BMW was banned from manufacturing engines for three years by the Allies. During this time, they built mostly bicycle and kitchen supplies. BMW did not produce a motorcycle again until 1948. They did not create another car model until 1952.
The final near catastrophe for the company came in 1955 when BMW's management suggested selling to Daimler-Benz. Henry Quandt, the major shareholder wanted to agree to the deal but backed out at the last moment due to disagreement and opposition from his employees and stockholders. Against the advice of his financial advisers, he increased his share of the company by 50 percent. This action was instrumental in turning the company around.
Today the BMW cars are renowned for their versatility, classical lines, and luxurious appointments. During much of the 80s and 90s a BMW, or Beamer, was recognized as a measure of status in many communities. The sporty look and feel of these cars, combined with precision German engineering gave car owners a ride that was as elegant as it was thrilling.
After a one-year vacation, the 2008 BMW M3 has returned with some major improvements. The inline-6 engine that sits under the hood has been replaced by a more powerful V8 engine. It has the latest in computerized steering mechanisms and this high-end automobile is practically able to take over the driving on its own.
Speed, power, and a beautiful interior are effortlessly integrated and these factors make the BMW M3 one of the cars that will be a dominant force this year. Other models that are proving quite popular with discriminating auto buyers of luxury cars are the BMW Z3 and the BMW Z6.
