One of the most remarkable aspects of the most notable automobile companies is their storied history which tracks how they became so successful. Many of us are incredibly familiar with that blue and white checkered emblem that sits just above the iconic grills of a BMW. There’s no mistaking this automobile, especially if you are a fan of this company. As such, you might enjoy discovering interesting facts about BMW that you likely didn’t know.
Aircraft Engine Manufacturer
It may shock many to learn, but BMW actually hopped out on the scene in 1916 as an aircraft engine manufacturer. In fact, the first BMW product was a straight-six aircraft engine.
As the company grew, it expanded into other ventures like motorcycle engines, automobiles, railway brakes, and farm equipment. However, when World War II began, BMW dropped automobiles and focused solely on manufacturing aircraft engines.
Led Electric Car Design
While BMW started in the aircraft business, it’s now widely notable for its electric car design. That’s because they began working on electric cars as far back as 1972. While their first model, the BMW 1602e, could not hold a charge of more than 20 minutes and had a fraction of the power of their other models, it still helped BMW fix flaws and create more efficient models for the future. Many of the top BMW models on the market today are electric cars.
BMW Acronym
Most of us refer to this automobile company as BMW, but an interesting fact you likely didn’t know is that it’s an acronym. That acronym stands for Bayerische Motoren Werke, which is German for Bavarian plane manufacturing. This is because BMW began making its products in Bavaria, Germany.
BMW Logo
Due to its long history of making aircraft engines and planes, many people assume that the BMW logo represents the movement on a propeller’s wings. However, that is incorrect. The highly recognizable blue and white checkered logo symbolizes the colored pattern on the Bavarian flag as a tribute to the place where BMW came into existence.
