The name of the company - BMW - stands for "Bavarian Motor Works" (Bayerische MotorenWerke). This is an automotive company that specializes in the production of motorcycles, cars, sports cars, off-road vehicles. The headquarters of BMW is located in the capital of the federal state of Bavaria, the city of Munich. The company logo hints at the aviation past and present of the company - it is a white propeller against the blue sky. In addition, blue and white are the official colors of the emblem of Bavaria.

The history of BMW begins with two small aircraft engine firms, created respectively by Karl Rapp and Gustav Otto (son of Nikolaus August Otto, inventor of the internal combustion engine) in 1913 in Munich. The following year, the First World War begins, and the German state begins to experience a great need for aircraft engines. This prompts the two designers to merge into one factory. In July 1917, this plant registers the name Bayerische MotorenWerke, and the BMW brand comes to life. But with the end of the war, Rapp and Otto will face a complete decline due to the defeat of Germany and the ban on the production of aircraft engines given to her. However, enterprising BMW executives are quickly discovering another niche where their ability to produce powerful motors could come in handy. First, motorcycle engines begin to be produced, and then the full cycle of production and assembly of a motorcycle takes place at the plant.

The first of them - R32 - appears in 1923, and immediately gains a high reputation due to its speed and reliability. Entrepreneurs will also experience unprecedented success in the field of engine production, as a BMW-powered aircraft, piloted by Franz Diemer, sets a world flight altitude record in 1919 - 9760 meters. In addition, the company concludes a secret agreement with the USSR for the supply of aircraft engines to it, and the aircraft of the Union also set records.

1928 is marked by the acquisition of new factories in the city of Eisenach, Thuringia, and with it the license for the production of small cars Dixi.

Actually Dixi becomes the first BMW car. Its low price and cost-effectiveness ensure high sales in Germany destroyed by the war and the financial crisis. The fame of BMW and its engines is growing with new achievements, such as Wolfgang von Gronau's seaplane flight across the Atlantic Ocean and the world speed record for motorcycles set by Ernst Henne on the R12, equipped with the latest BMW engineering solutions.

The gap between the two World Wars in the history of BMW is also marked by the models 303 and 328.

The latter was a sports car that left its competitors from the same niche far behind and was a repeated winner of various racing competitions. In the same years, a concept was formed, which the company follows to this day - "Car for the driver", as opposed to the Mercedes "Car for passengers".

The Second World War, like its predecessor, forces the company to switch to the production of aircraft engines, including in connection with the ban on selling cars to private individuals. In this vein, BMW manages to be the first in the world to begin the production of jet engines, as well as to carry out design developments for rocket engines. But with the end of the war, the company is on the verge of collapse, as part of its factories are in the Soviet occupation zone, and they are destroyed and equipment is dismantled for reparation. The release of aircraft engines into the war is now backfired by a three-year ban on production.

Then the BMW executives, Rapp and Otto start over. R24 motorcycle appears,

followed by a 501 passenger car, which, however, did not bring much profit. By 1955, the R50 and R51 motorcycle models were produced, and an interesting project came out - the Isetta subcompact, which is a strange hybrid of a motorcycle and a car with three wheels (two in front and one in the back), as well as a door that opens on the front of the body.

Of course, the Isetta turned out to be extremely cheap, and in some countries it was enough to have a motorcycle license to drive, so that such cars were ravaged by the war and reparations in Germany, and were affordable.

But the fashion for cars is changing, and once again not guessing the preferences of the public, the company's management makes a marketing mistake, and BMW is on the verge of bankruptcy. The question arises of selling the company to Mercedes, but small shareholders and local dealers prevent this, and the deal fails. Then the firm rebuilds its capital and thus keeps afloat. The further history of the company is a history of steady growth and original technical solutions. Among them, one can consistently note: anti-lock braking system, electronic engine control, the introduction of turbo technologies in the automotive industry ...

In 1969, motorcycle production is transferred to Berlin. BMW establishes a headquarters building as well as a research and development center and a test and development facility. In the 70s, the first models of the well-known BMW series appeared - the 3rd series, 5th series, 6th series, 7th series. 1983 is the year of BMW's victory in the Formula 1 races.

In 1990, the year of the reunification of the two Germanys, BMW returns to the production of aircraft engines, and the first in a row is the BR-700 engine. In addition, the company actively cooperates with other automakers.

In 1994 the industrial group Rover Group is bought along with its largest complex in the UK for the production of brands Rover, Land Rover and MG. In 1998, the British company Rolls-Royce was acquired. The company also does not forget about the safety of its customers, therefore, since 1995, all cars, without exception, are equipped with airbags for both the driver and front passenger, and anti-theft engine blocking.

Modern BMW is a thriving concern, increasing its profits year by year. This is one of the few companies that carry out exclusively manual assembly, without robots, only with post-production computer diagnostics. The company includes five factories in Germany and twenty-two subsidiaries around the world.

Official website: www.bmw.com
Headquarters: Germany

German automotive company specializing in the production of passenger cars, sports cars, off-road vehicles and motorcycles.

In 1913, on the northern outskirts of Munich, Karl Rapp and Gustav Otto, the son of the inventor of the internal combustion engine, Nikolaus August Otto, set up two small aircraft engine companies. The outbreak of the First World War immediately brought numerous orders for aircraft engines. Rapp and Otto decide to merge into one aircraft engine plant. Thus, an aircraft engine factory was established in Munich, which in July 1917 was registered under the name Bayerische Motoren Werke ("Bavarian Motor Works") - BMW. This date is considered to be the year of foundation of BMW, and Karl Rapp and Gustav Otto its founders.

Although the exact date of appearance and the moment the company was founded is still the subject of controversy between automotive historians. And all because the BMW industrial company was officially registered on July 20, 1917, but long before that, in the same city of Munich, there were many firms and associations that were also involved in the development and production of aircraft engines. Therefore, in order to finally see the "roots" of BMW, it is necessary to travel back to the last century, to the territory of the GDR that existed not so long ago. It was there that on December 3, 1886, the involvement of today's BMW in the automotive business was "lit up", and it was there, in the city of Eisenach, in the period from 1928 to 1939. was the headquarters of the company.

One of the local attractions of Eisenach was the reason for the appearance of the name of the first car ("Wartburg"), which was released in 1898 after the company created a number of 3- and 4-wheeled prototypes.

A very important moment in the history of BMW and the plant in Eisenach was 1904, when cars called "Dixie" were exhibited at the Frankfurt Motor Show, indicating the good development of the enterprise and a new level of production. There were two models in total - "S6" and "S12", the numbers in the designation of which indicated the amount of horsepower. (By the way, the "S12" model was not discontinued until 1925.)

Max Fritz, who worked at the Daimler plant, was invited to the position of chief designer at Bayerische Motoren Werke. Under the leadership of Fritz, the BMW IIIa aircraft engine was manufactured, which in September 1917 successfully passed bench tests. The aircraft equipped with this engine set a world record at the end of the year, having risen to 9760 m.

At the same time, the BMW emblem appeared - a circle divided into two blue and two white sectors, which was a stylized image of a propeller rotating against the sky. It was also taken into account that blue and white are the national colors of Bavaria.

After the end of the First World War, the company was on the verge of collapse, because, under the Treaty of Versailles, the Germans were forbidden to produce engines for aircraft, namely, engines at that time were the only products of BMW. But the enterprising Karl Rapp and Gustav Otto find a way out - the plant is converted to the production of motorcycle engines first, and then the motorcycles themselves. In 1923 The first R32 motorcycle leaves the BMW factory. At the 1923 motorcycle show in Paris, this first BMW motorcycle immediately gained a reputation for speed and reliability, which was confirmed by absolute speed records in international motorcycle races of the 20s and 30s.

In the early 20s, two influential businessmen appeared in the history of BMW - Gotaer and Shapiro, to whom the company went, falling into the abyss of debts and losses. The main reason for the crisis was the underdevelopment of its own automobile production, along with which the enterprise, by the way, was engaged in the production of aircraft engines. And since the latter, unlike cars, brought the bulk of the means of subsistence and development, BMW was in an unenviable position. The "cure" was invented by Shapiro, who was on friendly terms with the English car manufacturer Herbert Austin and was able to agree with him on the start of mass production of "Austins" in Eisenach. Moreover, the production of these cars was put on the conveyor, which by that time, except for BMW, only Daimler-Benz could boast.

The first 100 licensed "Austins", which enjoyed incredible success in Britain, left the assembly line in Germany with a right-hand drive, which was a novelty for the Germans. Later, the design of the machine was changed in accordance with local requirements, and the machines were produced under the name "Dixie". By 1928, more than 15,000 Dixies (read Austins) were made, which played a decisive role in the revival of BMW. This first became noticeable in 1925, when Shapiro became interested in the possibility of producing cars of his own design and began to negotiate with the famous designer and designer Wunibald Kamm. As a result, an agreement was reached, and another talented person was involved in the development of the now famous automobile brand. Kamm has been developing new components and assemblies for BMW for several years.

In the meantime, the issue of approving a branded trademark was resolved positively for BMW. In 1928, the company acquires car factories in Eisenach (Thuringia), and with them a license to produce a small car Dixi. November 16, 1928 "Dixie" ceased to exist as a trademark - it was replaced by "BMW". Dixi is the first BMW car. During the period of economic difficulties, the small car becomes the most popular car in Europe.

By the beginning of World War II, BMW was one of the most dynamically developing companies in the world, producing sports-oriented equipment. She has several world records to her credit: Wolfgang von Gronau crosses the North Atlantic from east to west in an open seaplane Dornier Wal powered by BMW, Ernst Henne sets the world speed record for motorcycles - 279.5 km / h, not surpassed by anyone over the next 14 years.

Production receives an additional boost after the conclusion of a secret agreement with Soviet Russia to supply her with the latest aircraft engines. Most of the Soviet record flights of the 1930s were made on aircraft equipped with BMW engines.

In 1933, the production of the 303 model began - the first BMW car with a 6-cylinder engine, which made its debut at the Berlin Automobile Exhibition. His appearance was a real sensation. This inline "six" with a displacement of 1.2 liters allowed the car to move at a speed of 90 km / h and became the basis for many subsequent BMW sports projects. Moreover, it was used on the new model "303", which became the first in the history of the company, which was equipped with a radiator grille with a corporate design, expressed in the presence of two elongated ovals. The "303" model was designed at the Eisenach factory and featured primarily a tubular frame, independent front suspension and good, sporty handling characteristics. During the two years of production of the BMW-303, the company managed to sell 2,300 of these cars, which, by the way, were later followed by their "brothers", distinguished by more powerful engines and other digital designations: "309" and "315". Actually, they became the first samples for the logical development of the BMW model designation system.

Along with all the previous cars, the "326" model, which appeared at the Berlin Automobile Exhibition in 1936, looked simply gorgeous. This four-door car was far from the world of sports, and its rounded design already belonged to the direction that came into force in the 50s. The open top, good quality, chic interior and a large number of new changes and additions put the 326 on a par with Mercedes-Benz cars, whose buyers were very wealthy people.

With a mass of 1125 kg, the BMW-326 model accelerated to a maximum of 115 km / h and at the same time consumed 12.5 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers. With similar characteristics and with its appearance, the car was included in the list of the best models of the company and was produced until 1941, when BMW production amounted to almost 16,000 units. With so many produced and sold cars, the BMW-326 became the best pre-war model.

Logically, after such a resounding success of the "326th" model, the next logical step should have been the appearance of a sports model made on its basis.

World War II took a toll on German car manufacturers, and BMW was no exception. The plant in Milbertshofen was completely bombed by the liberators, and the enterprise in Eisenach turned out to be in territory controlled by the Russians. Therefore, the equipment from there was partially exported to Russia as repatriations, and what remained was used to produce the BMW-321 and BMW-340 models, which were also sent to the USSR.

In 1955, the production of the R 50 and R 51 models begins, opening a new generation of motorcycles with a fully sprung chassis, the Isetta small car comes out, a strange symbiosis of a motorcycle with a car. A three-wheeled vehicle with a forward-opening door was a huge success in impoverished post-war Germany. At the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1955, she became the absolute opposite of the models produced at that time. The tiny BMW Isetta looked like a bubble with small attached headlights and side mirrors. The rear wheelbase was much smaller than the front. The model was equipped with a single-cylinder engine of 0.3 liters. With a power of 13 hp "Isetta" accelerated to a maximum of 80 km / h.

Along with the little Isetta, BMW introduced two luxury coupes, the 503 and 507, based on the 5 Series sedan. Both cars at that time belonged to "sufficiently sporty", although they had a "civilian" appearance. But because of the ensuing passion for large limousines and the resulting losses, the company is on the verge of collapse. This is the only case in the history of BMW when the economic situation was incorrectly calculated and the cars thrown onto the market were not in demand.

Models belonging to the 5th series did not improve the position of BMW in the 50s. On the contrary, debts began to grow rapidly, sales decreased. To correct this situation, the bank that provided assistance to BMW and was one of the largest shareholders of Daimler-Benz offered to set up the production of a small and not very expensive Mercedes-Benz car at the factories in Munich. Thus, the existence of BMW as an independent company producing original cars with its own name and brand was threatened. This proposal was actively opposed by BMW's small shareholders and dealerships throughout Germany. Together, a certain amount of money was collected, which was required to develop and start production of a new middle-class BMW model, which was supposed to significantly improve the company's position in the 60s.

By restructuring the capital structure, BMW manages to continue its activities. The third time the firm starts all over again. The car of the middle class, as expected, was to become a family car for the "average" (and not only) Germans. A small four-door sedan, a 1.5-liter engine and independent front and rear suspensions, which at that time were not present in all cars, were considered as the most suitable option.

It was almost impossible to put the car into production by 1961 and then present it at the Frankfurt Motor Show: there was simply not enough time. Therefore, under pressure from the sales department, several prototypes were urgently prepared for the exhibition, designed to attract future customers. The bet was made and in many respects justified itself. During the exhibition and over the next few weeks, about 20,000 orders for the BMW-1500 were made!

At the height of the production of the 1500 model, small engineering firms began to modify the car and increase the engine power, which, naturally, could not please the BMW management. The response was the release of the "1800" model with a 1.8-liter engine. Moreover, a little later, a version of the "1800 TI" appeared, corresponding to cars of the "Gran Turismo" class and accelerating to 186 km / h. Outwardly, it did not differ much from the basic version, but, nevertheless, it became a worthy addition to the already replenished family.

BMW 1800 TI "although it was produced in the amount of only 200 copies, it nevertheless became an extremely popular model. By 1966, on the basis of the car, the designers created a worthy follower -" BMW-2000 ", which today is perceived as the ancestor of the 3rd series, released to the present moment in several generations.At the same time, a coupe with a 2-liter engine and 100-120 "horses" hidden under the hood was a matter of special pride for BMW.

In fact, "BMW-2000" in the basic and other versions is one of the most successful models in the history of BMW. It takes a long time to count the number of variants of bodies and power units that appeared at that time of various capacities and with various maximum speeds. Together they formed a series that received the designation "02". Its representatives could satisfy the needs of almost all motorists, who were offered a choice from the simplest and most modest coupes to "fancy" high-speed convertibles with alloy wheels, "automatic" boxes and 170 "horse" engines.

The last 30 years has been 30 years of victories for BMW. New factories are being opened, the world's first serial turbo model "2002-turbo" is being produced, an anti-lock braking system is being created, which now all leading automakers equip their cars with. The first electronic engine control is being developed. Almost all the models of the 60s that brought the automaker so much popularity were equipped with four-cylinder engines. However, BMW management still remembered powerful and reliable units, which they intended to revive by 1968 simultaneously with the release of a new model, the BMW-2500. The single-row "six-cylinder" used in it, constantly undergoing modernization, was produced over the next 14 years and managed to become the basis for the same reliable and more powerful 2.8-liter engine. Along with the latest four-door sedan moved into a range of sports cars, because. only a few production cars in standard equipment could exceed the speed mark of 200 km / h.

The headquarters building of the concern is being built in Munich, and the first control and testing ground is opened in Aschheim. A research center was built to design new models. In the 1970s, the first cars of the famous BMW series appear - models of the 3rd series, 5th series, 6th series, 7th series.

In the year of German reunification, the concern, having founded BMW Rolls-Royce GmbH, returned to its roots in the field of aircraft engine building, and in 1991 introduced the new BR-700 aircraft engine. In the early 1990s, the third-generation 3 Series compact sports cars and the 8 Series Coupé hit the market.

A good step for the company was the purchase in 1994 for DM 2.3 billion of the industrial group Rover Group (“Rover Group”), and with it the UK's largest complex for the production of cars of the Rover, Land Rover and MG brands. With the purchase of this company, the list of BMW cars was replenished with the missing midget cars and SUVs. In 1998, the British company Rolls-Royce was acquired.

Since 1995, an airbag for the front passenger and an anti-theft engine blocking system have been included as standard on all BMW vehicles. In March of the same year, the station wagon (touring) of the 3rd series is launched into production.

Today, BMW, which began as a small aircraft engine plant, manufactures its products at five factories in Germany and twenty-two subsidiaries scattered around the world. This is one of the few automotive companies that does not use robots in factories. All assembly on the conveyor goes only manually. At the output - only computer diagnostics of the main parameters of the car.

Over the past 30 years, only the concerns of BMW and Toyota have been able to operate with annually increasing profits. The BMW empire, which has been on the verge of collapse three times in its history, has risen and succeeded each time. For everyone in the world, the BMW concern is synonymous with high standards in the field of automotive comfort, safety, technology and quality.

- to the begining -

The automotive industry has always suffered from the fact that the relationship between manufacturers was very difficult to understand. After the global financial crisis thoroughly crippled it in almost all countries, European and American auto giants began to frantically resell their brands. In this confusion, it became unclear who is now responsible for the famous brands. Online812 has traced the complex history of relationships between major automotive brands.

Few manage to maintain their independence in a competitive market. Basically, these are the largest brands that are still in the hands of the families of their founders. For example, the Peugeot Citroen automaker is still 30.3% (45.1% of voting shares) owned by the Peugeot family. The shares are also owned by employees of the concern (2.76%), there are also treasury shares (3.07%). The remaining shares are in free float.

By the way, Peugeot SA acquired a 38.2% stake in Citroën back in 1974, and two years later brought this share to 89.95%. So today, Peugeot almost completely controls the formerly independent Citroen.

The Bavarian concern BMW, which in 1959 actually single-handedly saved Herbert Quandt from the sale, still depends on his family. At the end of the 1950s, the rival company Daimler-Benz became interested in the unprofitable German brand, but Quandt did not sell it, and invested himself. Today, his widow Joanna Quandt and children Stefan and Susanna control 46.6% of BMW shares and live quite well. Stefan Quandt even served as vice chairman of the company's board for some time. Despite the fact that Ford, General Motors, Volkswagen, Honda and Fiat offered very lucrative deals at various times, Quandt's heirs refuse to sell, as they consider keeping the brand a matter of honor for the family.

Ford Motor is run by William Ford Jr., great-grandson of the famous Henry Ford. Henry Ford himself always dreamed of being the sole owner of the company. In 1919, Henry and his son Edsel bought out the company's shares from other shareholders and became the sole owners of their offspring. There is no doubt that the shares were sold to them without any problems, because the first shareholders were: a coal merchant, his accountant, a banker who trusted the coal merchant, two brothers who had an engine workshop, a carpenter, two lawyers, one clerk , owner of a haberdashery and a man who produced wind turbines and air rifles.

Later, the business was always inherited. So the father of the current director, leaving the board of directors, handed over the reins of government to his son, while remaining the largest shareholder. In January 1956, the Ford Motor Company again became a public company. In the 21st century, the company has about 700,000 shareholders. At the same time, the Ford family owns 40% of the voting shares, which determines the main policy of the company, and the remaining shares are in free float.

A little earlier than others, in 2007, Ford experienced a serious crisis. He lost $12.7 billion in a year. The Ford family tried to overcome the situation, and was even forced to sell the family estate and move to a smaller estate. Nevertheless, in order to somehow get out of the debt hole, the concern had to sell Aston Martin (which was 100% owned by Ford) to a consortium of investors for $925 million. Until 2008, under the pressure of Japanese competitors, the situation only worsened. Shareholders began to get rid of Ford shares. So did one of the largest investors, billionaire Kirk Kerkorian, who reduced his stake in the company to 4.89% (107 million shares).

Until recently, Ford boasted two more British brands - Jaguar (Ford bought Jaguar for $2.5 billion in 1989) and Land Rover (in 2000 it was bought by Ford for $2.75 billion). dollars from BMW). In 2008, both brands were put up for sale due to huge debts. In June 2008 they were bought by the Indian Tata Motors.

In March 2010, Swedish auto giant Volvo reached an agreement with China's Zhejiang Geely to sell Volvo Cars for $1.8 billion. In August of this year, Ford, as the former owner of Volvo, received $1.3 billion in cash and $200 million in credit notes from Geely. By the end of the year, the Chinese will also transfer another $300 million to Ford's accounts.

Today, in addition to cars with its own name, Ford Motor owns the Lincoln and Mercury brands. Ford also owns a 33.4% stake in Mazda and a 9.4% stake in Kia Motors Corporation.

German Porsche is owned by the Porsche and Piech families, the heirs of company founder Ferdinand Porsche and his sister Louise Piech. The family clan owns shares of the company, giving the right to make key decisions, and a small part of the preferred shares listed on the German stock exchanges. By the way, the cunning family has a very significant impact on the German car market. So, for example, Ferdinand Piech (grandson of Ferdinand Porsche), from 1993 to 2002 headed Volkswagen.

In 2009, the family concern acquired its first major foreign shareholder. It was the Qatari emirate, which bought out 10% of the holding's shares.

By the way, Volkswagen itself is actually owned by Porsche, and vice versa - since 2009, Volkswagen has owned 49.9% of the shares of Porsche AG.

Initially, Volkswagen was a state-owned automaker. It was reorganized into a joint-stock company only in 1960, and the federal government of Germany and the government of Lower Saxony each received 20% of the shares in its capital. For 2009, the main shareholders of the concern were: 22.5% - Porsche Automobil Holding SE, 14.8% - Lower Saxony, 30.9% - private shareholders, 25.6% - Foreign investment institutions, 6.2% - German investment institutions. In August 2009, Porsche SE and the Volkswagen Group reached an agreement whereby Volkswagen and Porsche AG would be definitively merged by 2011.

In addition to its own production, the divisions of the Volkswagen Group are currently: Audi (acquired from Daimler-Benz in 1964), Seat (since 1990, the Volkswagen Group owns 99.99% of the shares), Škoda, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini (the company was acquired by subsidiary of Audi in 1998).

Hyundai Motor "raised from its knees" a single person - Chung Mong Koo, the eldest son of the founder of the Hyundai industrial group. In the late 90s, he seriously took up the quality of cars. For some 6 years, the Korean was able to increase sales in the US market by 360% and take fourth place among imported brands.

Today, 4.56% of Hyundai's shares are owned by the National Pension Service of South Korea, which hates Chung, and every time in every possible way prevents him from being re-elected. In principle, their doubts are understandable - in 2007, 72-year-old Chung was sentenced to three years in prison for embezzling 90 billion won ($77 million) through fraudulent schemes. An appeals court later suspended this sentence and transferred Chung to community service, but his reputation was irretrievably lost. In 2010, the Seoul District Court still ordered the ex-chairman of the board of directors to pay compensation in the amount of 70 billion won (about $60 million) for business decisions he made that were unfavorable for Hyundai.

Kia Motors is currently the second largest South Korean manufacturer and the seventh largest in the world. It is part of the Hyundai Kia Automotive Group, and is mostly owned by Hyundai Motor Co. (38.67% of shares), Ford Motor (9.4%), Credit Suisse Financial (8.23%), employees (7.14%), Hyundai Capital (1.26%).

Another major Asian manufacturer, Suzuki Motor Corporation, has only 16.9% of shares on its own balance sheet. The rest are owned by: Millea Holdings - 3.86%, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group - 3.28%, General Motors - 3%, another 16.24% of the shares are in free float. In January of this year, Volkswagen AG joined the largest shareholder of Suzuki Motor, which bought out 19.9% ​​of the shares for 222.5 billion yen ($2.5 billion). In the deal, Suzuki was entitled to half of that amount to acquire shares in the German corporation.

Concern "Reno" over the past 60 years is gradually getting out of state control. Until 1945, Renault was 100% privately owned. However, during the war, the company's factories were destroyed, and Louis Renault himself was accused of collaborating with the Nazis and convicted. A major businessman died in prison, and his company was successfully nationalized. However, over the years, the state share began to decline. And if in 1996 Renault was state-owned by more than half, then in 2005 it already owned only 15.7% of the shares. In 1999, Renault and Nissan entered into perhaps the most enduring automotive alliance. Nissan is 44.4% owned by the French manufacturer, and Renault, in turn, gave 15% of the shares to the Japanese.

The fifth largest automobile concern, DaimlerChrysler, was very fond of the Arabs. The owner of the top brands Maybach, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG and Smart, has the Arab investment fund Aabar Investments (9.1%) as the main shareholder, the government of Kuwait owns 7.2% of the shares, and about 2% belongs to the emirate of Dubai. Next to such brands, it is surprising to see our KAMAZ, a 10% stake in which Daimler acquired in 2008. The German automaker paid $250 million immediately for KAMAZ shares and left $50 million until 2012. As a result of the deal, Daimler received one seat on the board of directors of KAMAZ. In February of this year, the concern bought another 1% stake in the truck manufacturer.

By the way, DaimlerChrysler owns a large block of shares in other companies: 85.0% of Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus, 50.1% - Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation, 19.9% ​​Chrysler Holding LLC (in 2007, 80.1% of the division's shares were sold for $7.4 billion to private investment fund Cerberus Capital Management, L.P.), 10.0% Tesla Motors, 7.0% Tata Motors Ltd.

The Japanese Toyota Motor Corp., whose president is the grandson of the founder of the company Akio Toyoda, is 6.29% owned by The Master Trust Bank of Japan, 6.29% by Japan Trustee Services Bank, 5.81% by Toyota Industries Corporation, 9% are treasury shares.

General Motors, which has long occupied a leading position in the automotive market, today is controlled by the state (61% of the shares). Its main shareholders are: the Government of Canada (12%), the United Auto Workers Union of the USA (17.5%). The remaining 10.5% of the shares were divided among the largest creditors.

The famous automaker still owns the Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, Cadillac and Opel brands. More recently, he also owned a controlling stake in the Swedish company Saab (50%), but after the crisis, in January 2010, he sold the company to the Dutch sports car manufacturer Spyker Cars.

In the summer of 2008, General Motors decided to sell the Hummer brand, and for almost a year tried to sell it to the Chinese, then Russians, then Indians. As a result, the only promising deal with the Chinese Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co fell through, and on May 26, 2010, the last SUV of the brand rolled off the assembly line of the General Motors plant in the US city of Shreveport.

In addition, General Motors was a major shareholder in several companies. For example, until recently, he had 20% of the shares of Japanese companies Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru cars) and Suzuki Motor Corporation, as well as 12% of Isuzu Motors.

Today, BMW is a modern, dignified and popular vehicle manufacturer. However, the history of the BMW company clearly reflects its path, passed in order to gain the trust and respect of its fans.

Currently, the BMW logo adorns cars, motorcycles, bicycles, engines of the best quality. The company's turnover is about 170 billion euros per year, of which about 9 billion is net profit. Major subsidiaries of the brand specialize in the production of small cars, luxury cars and electric vehicles.

Company `s logo

Geographically, the head office of the company is located in Germany, in the city of Munich. Production facilities are located both in some cities in Germany and in other countries. BMW cars have been successfully competing with Mercedes Benz products for many years. Originally founded for the production of aircraft engines, the company has firmly entered the automotive industry and is one of the flagships in this industry.

Company head office

How it all began

The history of the company's creation began with the fact that in 1916 Karl Friedrich Rapp registered his company for the production of aircraft engines. The headquarters of the future leader of the automotive industry is located in Munich, pursuing certain goals - to be closer to the production facilities for the production of aircraft owned by Gustav Otto, a friend and later companion of Rapp.

Carl Friedrich Rapp, company founder

Almost immediately, the newly created enterprise was lucky in the form of a lucrative contract for the production of engines for Austro-Hungarian aircraft. Along the way, there was also a difficulty - a lack of finance. To solve the latter problem, the company was able to expand by hiring co-founders who provided cash flow. Unfortunately, such an expansion brought a series of setbacks that led to the departure of the founder of the company. The reins of government passed to Franz Joseph Popp, thanks to whom, since 1918, history has continued as a BMW company.

During the historical events of that time, after the conclusion of the Versailles Peace Treaty, the production of aircraft in Germany became impossible - it was prohibited, and the history of the company turned in a different direction - the manufacture of brake systems for trains and trains.

But for a short time, the BMW brand had a connection with railway transport - already in 1923, the first motorcycle was produced under this brand. BMW motorcycles immediately captivated the public with their level - the cars were well thought out, ideal for racing use and spectacular in appearance.

Having made an excellent impression on buyers with motorcycles, the founders of the company did not stop at this achievement and in 1928 the first production facilities for the production of automobiles were acquired. Since that time, along with motorcycles, the first car has received the right to life.

Automotive history

The history of BMW cars began with small cars. At that time (and this is the 20-30s of the XX century), small cars were at the peak of popularity due to their fuel economy, maneuverability and ease of control. So, the first developed and produced BMW car was the Dixi 3/15 PS. It had only 20 horsepower, but a number of its advantages were complemented by the ability to reach speeds of up to 80 km / h, a four-cylinder engine and impeccable workmanship. This model was largely copied from the famous English brand, so in 1933 the model range was replenished with a small-capacity in-house design: the BMW 303.

303

A small engine capacity was comfortably combined in it with a relatively light body and not a bad power of 30 horsepower. It was already a real representative of the brand, with a characteristic appearance of the radiator grille in our time.

In 1936-1937, the BMW 321 and 327 were produced - cars of full overall dimensions, with a two-liter engine. Beautiful, high quality and very affordable. Thus, the history of BMW, as a brand that guarantees the highest quality of products, began in 1927 and continues today.

Post-war recovery

The forced break in the automotive industry due to hostilities and their consequences also affected BMW. Factories located in Germany were not able to produce cars and motorcycles. Permission to manufacture them was obtained only in 1948.

The first BMW 501 produced after the war was notoriously unsuccessful. Firstly, while work was underway to develop it and obtain permits for release, the machine was already morally and physically outdated - the engine did not have good power, and the appearance did not attract buyers. Secondly, the price of the 501 was too high for post-war Germany, a fact that has never boosted sales.

501

Swallowing failure, the Bavarians set to work, which brought great results. In 1954, the release of the 502 took place, which, outwardly, seemed to be one of the versions of the 501, but had a clear advantage - an all-aluminum V8 engine. Prior to this, the history of automotive engines has never known such a motor.

502

A good profit was provided by the mass production of a new model manufactured under an Italian license - BMW Isetta. This is a small machine with one door and a motorcycle engine. Such little ones were very popular; they were collected more than sixteen thousand copies.

Isetta

Hard times

In the mid-50s of the twentieth century, the history of the company's development was marked by the development and release of two chic BMW models: the 503 and 507 Roadster. The first was immediately noticed at the motor show in 1955 due to the original body structure called hartop.

507 roadster

A powerful engine and the ability to reach speeds of almost two hundred kilometers per hour are guaranteed to make this model the main participant in the show in Frankfurt. The 507th BMW immediately after the release was recognized as one of the most beautiful cars in the world. It combined a 3.2-liter engine with an elegant body design designed by Count Albrecht Hertz. By the way, one of these roadsters became famous after being bought by Elvis Presley.

Unfortunately, although these BMW cars were created stylish and of high quality, they also had a very expensive cost, which could not but affect the financial condition of the company. Motorcycle production remained at an average level, expensive sedans were bought little, and small cars were no longer in such demand as they used to be. The history of the BMW brand is again faced with the possibility of a premature end.

Renaissance

In December 1959, a possible sale of the company was announced. The crisis was helped to resolve the 700 model. It was decorated with a Michelotti body, and the functionality was provided by an engine of 700 cubic meters and a power of 30 horsepower. A feature of this model is the location of the motor at the rear. The 700 was well received by the public and orders poured in one after another.

700

Having experienced a slight upsurge, the brand already in 1962 not only got on its feet confidently, but also gained fame, known to this day. BMW 1500 - it was this model that brought worldwide fame to the Bavarian company. Rear-wheel drive, with a recognizable body deflection and grille, it was equipped with a four-cylinder engine - so excellent in every respect that even Soviet engineers paid tribute to it, copying it for their creation - Moskvich.

1500

In the 1960s, the history of BMW rapidly developed the direction of sedans and coupes with a spectacular appearance and attractive technical characteristics. 1962 was the year of the release of the BMW 3200 CS with a Bertone body, 1965 was marked by the production of the first car with automatic transmission - it was the BMW 2000 coupe.

3200CS

The power of a car is growing rapidly every year, already in 1968 a car of this brand overcame the bar of 200 km / h. We are talking about the BMW 2800 CS.

Rapid development

This period fell on 70-90 years of the last century. The BMW 3.0 C SL is a legendary racing model capable of reaching speeds of up to 220 km / h, with an improved engine and a novelty of those times - ABS brakes.

The BMW 2000 Turbo is the pioneer of serial production of turbocharged cars.

BMW 3er - with this model, the production of the third series of bodies began. Here, a new generation engine with a cooling fan was presented, and the chassis was improved.

The BMW 6er is a sport class coupe with stunning looks and a reliable Big Six engine. In this series, the models have undergone many changes. Already by 1989, they had a sunroof, a leather interior in body color, a computer, disc brakes, and air conditioning.

The BMW 7er is a luxury sedan body. Quite a few models were released in this series. 728, 730 and 733i are among the first to have Chek-control, flow indicators and a ZF automatic in their arsenal.

733i

Subsequent models were more advanced, including turbocharging, full power accessories and leather interiors. In 1986, it was the BMW "seven" that was first equipped with a twelve-cylinder engine.

Luxurious, reliable, expensive

Observing the changes in modifications of cars bearing BMW emblems, we can say with confidence that every year the equipment of cars is becoming more and more luxurious, able to provide for the slightest needs of users, providing complete comfort and convenience in any situation.

BMW cars continue to be produced in sedans and coupes, and already in 1998, the third series model was released, which is presented both in a sedan, and in a station wagon, and in a hatchback. And 1999 was the year of birth, one might say, of the already legendary X5 crossover.

x5

The main feature of this model is equally good off-road and autobahn adaptability - so far no one has managed to combine these qualities in their offspring. She made a real sensation among motorists and became a bestseller for many years.

In 2001, the history of BMW models made another steep turn, presenting its creation from the 7er line - E65, which differs from all previously made ones by a radically new approach to controlling the mechanism. For her, the i-Drive system was developed, which allows coordinating up to 700 parameters, a six-speed automatic transmission and a servo brake.

E65

Analyzing the history of the entire BMW lineup, the principle of success of this company becomes clear. Here, the priority is intellectual technical developments, the implementation of the most daring ideas, customer focus in detail, as well as the foresight of shareholders and the correct monitoring of market demand.

History of motorcycle construction

Despite the clear priority in the automotive industry, motorcycles were, are and will be in demand. This type of transport has its own advantages, its own market and range.

The very first motorcycle in the history of the company was created by engineer Max Friz, embodying a radically new idea for the structure of this vehicle. His idea was unusual for 1922 and consisted in the possibility of installing the engine not along, but across the longitudinal axis of the motorcycle.

First motorcycle

The development led to the release of the innovative R32. It was presented at the famous motor show in 1923 and received loud publicity and rapidly growing popularity, despite the rather high cost.

Having widely presented its new product both in the form of urban transport and in the form of racing, the company began to improve the first model. Within ten years, motorcycles bearing BMW emblems have undergone significant changes. The tubular frames have been replaced by pressed metal bases, the engine displacement reaches 750 "cubes", the front wheel fork is equipped with shock absorption. The R12 and R17 models produced in 1935 looked similar.

R17

The world-wide fame of BMW as a manufacturer of motorcycles was brought by racing. It is by constantly setting new speed records that the German brand's motor vehicles have become incredibly popular not only in their own country, but also abroad. A well-known victory for the BMW brand was brought in 1939 by the racing driver George Mayer, who created a unique compressor that combines the lightness of a car and a high speed limit.

The Second World War also served as an excellent advertisement for the brand. Concerned about providing troops with equipment, the authorities gave preference to BMWs, given their previous merits in terms of speed and ease of operation and maintenance. Some models were created directly for military purposes, such as the R 75, which received a lot of positive feedback and awards from military leaders in different countries.

R75

After the war, the company set itself a more urgent goal for peacetime - ensuring the comfort of the driver and passengers of motorcycles. In 1951, the R51/3 was released with an improved Boxer engine and a smoother ride.

Over time, the manufacturer will continue to work on bringing the configuration and characteristics of their motorcycles. In the 60s, the fashion for this type of transport, both for movement and for sports, will spread throughout Europe and even America.

Motorcycles are becoming profitable to produce in series. Comfortable and reliable BMW models are widely used and world famous. The new R75/5 with 750cc engine not only excels in speed, but also in ease of handling, design and quality components.

In 1973, a jubilee, 500,000 copy of the motorcycle, the R 90 S, was released. Its distinctive features are a streamlined shape and an increased engine capacity. Soon it was supplemented by an even more updated R 100 RS. The production of motorcycles has become (and still remains) in demand.

R 100 RS

1980 was a significant year in the field of motorcycle production at BMW factories. For the R 80 G/S, a single rear wheel swingarm was developed, a design that allowed the car to tackle off-road conditions without sacrificing speed.

Further developments made it possible to equip the K100 with electronic fuel injection and provide it with 90 horsepower. Also in 1993, another novelty conquered women's hearts - the F650 single-cylinder bearer of the blue and white brand badge.

The heyday of the production of motor vehicles fell on the 90s of the last century. In 1996, the company suspends the production of three-cylinder models (K75) and switches to four-cylinder - 1200 RS with an engine of 1171 cubic centimeters and a power of 130 horsepower. Perfectly tuned suspension and drive make the new product a sales star, it is popular both for tourism and for traveling around cities and autobahns.

Currently, motorcycles are presented in a huge assortment, there are also touring models that pass on any road or even in its absence, high-speed sports bikes that can satisfy the most sophisticated drivers, and, of course, classic city riding options - elegant or extravagant.

BMW motorcycles are constantly being improved, their quality has long been confirmed by years of successful operation, reliable design and the authority of this brand.

History of engines

BMW was originally formed as an engine company, and it is not so important that the engines were planned to be produced for the aircraft industry! Be that as it may, when establishing production, the founders relied on the quality of this particular part of the machines - the company has always designed, assembled and improved engines for its cars and motorcycles on its own, achieving stable operation and maximum performance.

Produced at the very beginning, the engines were mainly for military purposes and were made to order for the German army. But after the end of World War II and the conclusion of the Treaty of Versailles, which prohibited the production of military equipment, the plant had to direct its activities in a slightly different direction.

The first engines produced by the company were the primitive M10-M50, this was the first generation of engines that did not yet have special requirements, their repair was frequent and how simple, which at times was carried out independently by the owners of the cars.

Engines improved over time had an intake valve timing control mechanism - VANOS. They can already be attributed to the new generation of motors. Here, the wear resistance of the engine is significantly increased and environmental parameters of operation are taken into account.

The next step is the thermostat, which opens at 97 degrees, this made it possible to perfectly adapt the motor for driving in urban conditions. In such engines there is a function of complete combustion of fuel. Such engines (and these are M54, M52TU) work with an electronic gas pedal, the sensitivity of which is increased tenfold. This device is very whimsical to the choice of brand of fuel. The quality of the product being poured directly affects its proper operation and service life.

Sport in BMW history

Releasing such a huge variety of models of cars and motorcycles, the history of BMW could not ignore such a popular field of application of technology as sports. Often it was sports models that brought popularity to the brand and ensured sales growth!

The first BMW sports car was made in 1936 and instantly made a splash in the world of motorsport. It was a BMW 328, its design ideally combined light weight of the car and good power with an engine capacity of only two liters. In subsequent years, based on this model, other, faster ones were also released.

First sports car

The shareholders of the company, seeing a successful trend in the development of production in the sports direction, in 1972 created a subsidiary - BMW Motorsport GmbH. It was designed specifically for the development, production and refinement of racing models.

In 1973, the BMW 3.0 CSL received dizzying fame after participating in circuit races. This model also had a corresponding racing look - trunk spoilers, enlarged wings, and besides this - a lot of advantages in technical equipment. The first turbocharged variant, the BMW 2002 turbo, had a similar career, and a unique engine was developed for it, adapted specifically for the race track.

It was at this time that BMW confidently became a leader in the sports series, releasing racing news with light weight and high power. Both automobiles and motorcycles are produced in this area. In the automotive industry, the CSL series continues to develop, a six-cylinder engine, an ABS brake system, and a body made of special lightweight alloys appear.

BMW motorcycles are developing very rapidly in the racing business - the main focus of the company's designers is in this direction. Engines for racing cars are being developed. The acclaimed Boxer series of motorcycles has undergone many improvements, including special racing engines, wheel dampers and off-road capability. In particular, it was on a BMW motorcycle (it was R 90 S) in 1976 that the Superbike Championship in America was held.

R90S

All these successes led to the opening in 1988 of the special production facilities of BMW Motorsport GmbH in Munich.

For more than 50 years, there has been a separate racing program from BMW Motorsport, which provides for the production and sale of cars for racing sports.

origin of name

The name BMW logically comes from the original purpose of the company: Bayerische Motoren Werke, namely the "Bavarian Motor Works". The history of the brand began shortly before the First World War, when this enterprise for the production of aircraft engines was created.

Officially, this happened in Munich on July 20, 1917 - from this date the history of BMW begins. The founders of the Bavarian motor factories were Karl Rapp and Gustav Otto - having opened their two small companies, they subsequently merged them into one, which just became the world-famous BMW.

Creation of a logo

No less interesting is the history of the brand logo. Known to every modern person, the blue and white BMW emblems were developed at the very beginning of the founding of the enterprise and symbolized the white propeller of an airplane against a blue sky background.

The creation of the logo was directly influenced by the history of the creation of this brand. Since the company was founded as the Bavarian Motor Works and produced aircraft engines. It is quite natural that the history of the logo began with the design in the sky style.

First emblem

The very first version in the history of the emblem, approved in 1917, depicted the propeller of a flying aircraft. The idea was great, but the execution of such a logo turned out to be complicated and visually the details were small. In a small badge, it was not at all clear what exactly was depicted on it. Therefore, in 1920, the shareholders of the company decided to improve it.

Logo evolution

The image of the propeller was simplified to the form that is known in our time: blue and white diamonds. The white quarters of the circle symbolize the propeller of the engine, the blue ones are the sky background. Such an image is doubly relevant, since it is in white and blue colors that the flag and coat of arms of Bavaria go.

The history of the BMW mark is simple and uncomplicated, and the logo of this brand is known all over the world and is recognizable at first sight.

A look into the future

A company that has survived more than one crisis, has made many technical discoveries and the right marketing moves, and is firmly on its feet, is simply doomed to a successful career. Celebrating its centenary, BMW set itself the goal of "The Next 100 Years".

Market research and customer needs are currently being researched. A careful analysis of the data will lead to the development and production of the latest types of machines, taking into account modern digital technologies. Active development includes additive technologies and total process automation, digital intelligence, the possibility of robotic vehicle control and other innovations.

BMW also pays special attention to environmental protection; it was the first in the world to introduce requirements for compliance with environmental standards for its production facilities. In the future, it is planned to focus on this problem, taking into account new types of fuel, electric vehicles and similar measures.

BMW has been, is and will remain one of the leaders in the global automotive industry. Quality, exterior, technical data and ease of operation, which invariably accompany absolutely all products of this brand, have been speaking for themselves for more than a hundred years.

On December 3, 1896, in the city of Eisenach, Heinrich Ehrhardt founded a factory for the production of cars for the needs of the army and, oddly enough, bicycles. Already the fifth in the district. And, probably, Erhardt would have produced dark green mountain bikes, ambulances and mobile soldiers' kitchens if he had not seen the success that accompanied Daimler and Benz with their motorized sidecars.

And it was decided to make something light, not military, and, of course, different from what competitors have already done. But to save time and money, Ehrhardt bought a license from the French. The Parisian car was called Ducaville.

So there was what today is called BMW. And then this monster was called the "Wartburg motorized carriage", and it was not its own development. A couple of years later, in September 1898, the Wartburg arrived on its own at an automobile exhibition in Düsseldorf and took its place on a par with Daimler, Benz, Opel and Durkopp.

And a year later, Erhardt's motorized carriage won the main car races of that time - Dresden - Berlin and Aachen - Bonn. The golden double helped Wartburg win twenty-two medals throughout his career, including one for elegant design.

Wartburg's life was cut short in 1903: exorbitant debts, a decline in production. Ehrhardt gathers his shareholders and makes a speech, which he ends with the Latin word dixi ("I've said it all!"). This is how the ancient Roman orators ended their speeches, though not so tragic.

However, help came unexpectedly - from one of Erhardt's shareholders. Exchange speculator Yakov Shapiro really did not want to part with the motorized carriage he loved so much. Shapiro, at that time, had enough control over the British factory in Birmingham, which produced Austin-7 (Austin Seven). This miracle of the British car industry was very popular in London and its environs. And Shapiro, without thinking twice, but having managed to calculate all the possible benefits, buys a license for Austin from the British.

Now what started to roll off the assembly line in Eisenach was named Dixi. According to the last word of Herr Erhardt. True, the first batch of cars went to the people with a right-hand drive. This was the first and last time that a passenger was seated on the left side in continental Europe. Speculator Shapiro, it should be noted, did not lose.

From 1904 to 1929, the revived Ehrhardt factory produced and sold 15,822 Dixi. However, it's time to make your own car. Still, the realization that Birmingham was looming behind him was haunting. And in 1927, the Heinrich Ehrhardt plant, already an integral part of BMW, began to produce its own Dixi - Dixi 3/15 PS.

More than nine thousand cars were sold during the year. The most sophisticated, by the standards of that time, Dixi cost three thousand two hundred Reichsmarks. But he accelerated to seventy-five kilometers per hour.

And then Karl Friedrich Rapp broke into the history of BMW, who dreamed of the sky and aircraft engines. Rapp founded a small company and went to work somewhere on the northern outskirts of Munich. His goal is not cars. His goal is airplanes. He had both desire and enthusiasm, but, unfortunately, not backed up by luck.

In 1912, at the first imperial exhibition of aviation achievements, Karl Rapp presented his biplane with a ninety-horsepower engine. However, his plane never took off.

Considering the failure as temporary, Rapp planned for the next (two years later) exhibition another biplane with an engine with a capacity of one hundred and twenty-five "horses". But in 1914, instead of the imperial show, the First World War began.

In general, there was a plus in this for Rapp - the war brought orders for aircraft engines. But Rapp's engines were incredibly noisy and suffered from strong vibration, and therefore, due to complaints from local residents, the authorities of Prussia and Bavaria banned the flights of aircraft with Rapp's engines over their territory. Things were getting worse. Even despite the fact that Rapp's enterprise had a very loud name.

On March 7, 1916, his company was registered under the name Bavarian Aircraft Works (BFW). And here a new character enters the scene - the Viennese banker Camillo Castiglioni. He buys out Rapp's share in the company and, thereby, brings the capitalization of the then still BFW to almost one and a half million marks.

But this did not save Rapp from the reputation of a loser and bankrupt. But it saved his company. Of the last strength, she was able to hold out until the arrival of another Austrian - Franz Josef Popp (Franz Josef Popp).

Popp, a retired lieutenant in the Austro-Hungarian marines with a degree in engineering, was an expert at the Imperial Ministry of Defense and kept track of all the latest technical developments. But at that time, he was most interested in the 224V12 power plants produced in Munich. He came here in 1916 to start his life's work from scratch.

The first thing Popp did was to hire Max Fritz. Brilliant, as it turned out later, the engineer was fired from Daimler for demanding an increase in his salary to fifty marks a month. Old Daimler would not have been greedy then, and, perhaps, BMW could have had a completely different fate.

With regard to Fritz, Rapp took a tough stance. And when the former Daimler engineer finally came to work, Rapp resigned. But even after his departure, the company retained a reputation as a half-ruined company that failed to achieve anything. And Popp decides to rename the brainchild of Rapp.

On July 21, 1917, a historical entry is made in the Munich registration chamber: "The Bavarian aircraft factories Rapp" are now called the "Bavarian Motor Works" (Bayerische Motoren Werke). BMW took place. Moreover, the main products of the Bavarian Motor Plants are still aircraft engines.

There was still a year before the end of the First World War, and the Kaiser still had hopes of at least a draw. It didn't work out. Moreover, according to the Treaty of Versailles, the victorious powers banned the production of aircraft engines in Germany. However, the stubborn Franz-Josef Popp, despite any prohibitions, continues to invent and implement new engines.

On June 9, 1919, pilot Franz Zeno Diemer (Franz Zeno Diemer), after eighty-seven minutes of flight, climbed to an unprecedented height - 9760 meters. His DFW C4 was powered by a BMW Series 4 engine. But no one has recorded a world altitude record. Germany, according to the same Versailles Treaty, was not among the member countries of the International Federation of Aeronautics

The banker Castiglioni, who once almost saved Rapp, does not lag behind Popp. In the spring of 1922, he buys the last surviving aircraft engine factory for BMW. From now on, the "Bavarian Motor Works" has another direction.

In addition to engines for aircraft, Munich is setting up the production of very small engines - two-cylinders, with a volume of just nothing - 494 cubic meters. see And a year later, small engines justified themselves - in 1923, first at the Berlin and then at the Paris car exhibitions, the first BMW motorcycle - R-32 - becomes the main sensation.

Six years later, BMW finally decides on its future destiny: motorcycles, cars and aircraft engines. Two years since the company releases its own Dixi. This is a completely restyled model, brought by Popp himself to the full satisfaction of German taste.

In the same twenty-ninth BMW Dixi wins the International Alpine Race. Max Buchner, Albert Kandt and Wilhelm Wagner raced to victory at an average speed of 42 km/h. So fast and so long at such a speed then no car could go.

In 1930, BMW produces another hit of the season. Popp and his comrades suddenly decide to go back as much as thirty-four years ago and call the new car Wartburg.

The shadow of the motorized sidecar of the last century has regained real shape, embodied in the DA-3. With the windshield down, the Wartburg accelerated to almost 100 km/h. It became the first BMW car to grab a compliment from Motor und Sport magazine. Quote: “Only a very good driver can own a Wartburg. A bad driver is not worthy of this car.” The name of the author is still unknown, but what he said discourages all the desire for self-criticism.

In 1932 Dixi became history. Austin's production license has expired. About five years ago, Popp, probably, well, if he hadn't been upset, he would have started looking for ways to escape ... or a way out.

But at that time, BMW only thought about the future. And the future is the Berlin Motor Show. Here, the BMW 303 won applause - the very first "three-ruble note". It had the smallest 1173 cc six-cylinder engine ever made under the hood. see Manufacturers guaranteed a speed of 100 km/h. But only if the client can find the right street.

Whether the first test drive of the 303 took place, alas, is unknown. And one more thing, no less important than speed. "Three hundred and third" for a long sixty-nine years determined the appearance of BMW - a bewitching smoothness of lines, not yet predatory, but already with a hint of appearance and nostrils with a white and blue propeller.

Then there was the 326 Cabriolet. She became a hit in the thirty-sixth year and adequately completed the parade of the first threes. Between 1936 and 1941, the BMW 326 won almost sixteen thousand hearts. And this is the best indicator of the company in its entire history.

In the mid-thirties, BMW finally explains to both competitors and its customers: if the name of the company contains the word “motor”, then this is the best engine to date. The final doubts, and they certainly were, are dispelled by Ernst Henne (Ernst Henne) in 1936.

In the Nürburgring race among 2-litre cars, the small white BMW 328 roadster comes first, leaving behind the big cars with compressor engines. The average lap speed is 101.5 km/h. Well, they don't like turbocharged engines in Munich. Rather, they love, but not very actively.

A year and a half later, the same Ernst Henne, only now on a five hundred cc motorcycle, sets a new world record. He accelerates the two-wheeled monster to 279.5 km / h. All questions are removed for at least fourteen years.

Prior to World War II, BMW tried to participate in the limousine race. Finally, it was simply impossible to refuse to compete with the Opel Admiral or Ford V-8, Maybach SV 38. Moreover, in a small, but such an attractive niche, there were still empty seats.

And on December 17, 1939, BMW presented the new 335 in Berlin in two versions - a convertible and a coupe. Both experts and the public, having appreciated what was created, blessed the limousine for a long life.

Alas, 335 lasted less than a year. The war forced BMW to switch mainly to the production of aircraft engines. Moreover, the German authorities have banned the sale of cars to private individuals. However, at the very beginning of World War II, the Munich people still managed to put an end to the dispute for the best engine and the car equipped with it.

In April 1940, the BMW-328 roadster, driven in turn by Baron Fritz Huschke von Hanstein and Walter B?umer, won the thousand-mile Mille Miglia. Their 166.7 km / h still allowed the competitors to finish the race. And very comfortable. That's just a little later than the official finish.

In any case, it was on the eve of World War II that the principle of BMW was formed, and is valid to this day: always fresh, aggressively sporty and forever young. Cars for people who, at first glance, may look relaxed, but, in fact, have achieved a lot in this life. That's why they are relaxed.

"One people, one Reich, one Fuhrer... one chassis!" - this powerful propaganda campaign of the Third Reich was addressed to the automobile factories of Germany. We do not want, and we have no right to condemn those who worked for the war from the other side. Accusations are good and timely if they are made on the eve of events.

Be that as it may, the rear service of the German General Staff demanded from the automotive industry an ordinary military vehicle of three types. The development of the lightest version was entrusted to Stuever, Hanomag and BMW. Moreover, all three plants were strictly forbidden to somehow indicate that the car belonged to a particular company.

BMW began to create its participant in the movement on military roads later than everyone else, in April 1937. And by the summer of the fortieth, the Bavarian Motor Plants provided the army with more than three thousand light vehicles. All of it went under the name BMW 325 Lichter Einheits-Pkw, but without its already famous nostrils and blue and white propeller.

No matter how cynical it sounds, the products of the Munich factories were the most popular in the army. Even despite the fact that the "beamers" produced for the war did not have the necessary combat qualities. Under the crazy idea of ​​\u200b\u200b"blitzkrieg" the 325s were absolutely not suitable. They had enough fuel for only two hundred and forty kilometers.

And yet, for current BMW fans, the following must be said: all BMWs imprisoned for the war were removed from service long before the winter of 1942.

The defeat of Germany in the war almost equally meant the destruction of BMW. The enterprises in Milbertshofen were turned into ruins by the allies of the USSR, and the factories in Eisenach fell under the control of the Soviet army. And then according to the plan: the equipment - what survived - was taken to Russia. Repatriation. The winners decided how to dispose of the catch. But they tried to restore the remaining equipment in order to establish the production of cars. In general, it succeeded. However, assembled BMWs were sent straight from the assembly line to Moscow. Therefore, the surviving shareholders of the Bavarian Motor Works concentrated all their efforts, financial and human, around two relatively suitable enterprises in Munich.

Yet the first official post-war BMW product was a motorcycle. In March 1948, the 250 cc R-24 was presented to the public at the Geneva Exhibition. By the end of the following year, almost ten thousand of these motorcycles had been sold.

Then it was time for the R-51, a little later - the R-67, and then the hour of the six hundred cc sports R-68 with a maximum speed of 160 km / h struck. "68th" became the fastest car of its time. By 1954, almost thirty thousand people could boast of a BMW motorcycle.

However, such an insane popularity of two-wheeled monsters played a cruel joke with their creators. A motorcycle, no matter how fast it was, even with a proprietary propeller on the tank, remained the most affordable means of transportation for the poor. And by the mid-fifties, people with money were already dreaming aloud of a sedan worthy of their position.

The first attempt by BMW to meet those who wished turned into a financial collapse. Although at the premiere in Frankfurt, the BMW 501 was greeted with enthusiasm. Even Pinin Farina, rejected with his body project for the 501st, appreciated the work done by the Bavarians design bureau. It would seem that this is what you need. However, the production of the BMW 501 turned out to be the most expensive.

Only one front wing required three or even four technical operations. And all this, oddly enough, was done in order to compete with the "220th" Mercedes.

The fifties were generally not the most successful for BMW. Debts skyrocketed, and sales plummeted as well. Neither 507 nor 503 justified themselves. These cars, in principle, were intended for the American market. However, they waited for an answer from across the ocean in Munich.

Neither new developments nor seemingly competent advertising campaigns helped. As, for example, with the BMW 502 Cabriolet. In order to push this car to the market, marketers decided on outright flattery against women.

The 502 was not intended for the harsh male world. The brochures began with the words: “Good afternoon, madam! Only twenty-two thousand marks, and not a single man can pass by you without turning around. You will catch their loving glances by casually resting your hand on the ivory steering wheel.”

In 502, everything was made for delicate female hands. Even the soft folding top. It was easy to fold or unfold. This fact was especially emphasized in BMW. And, of course, the woman who bought the 502 did not care that she had a 2.6-liter engine with a hundred horsepower under the hood. Most importantly, the Becker Grand-Prix cassette player quietly plays the beloved Glenn Miller from his In the Mood. For two years, BMW tried to torture its chic brainchild. But no new orders have been received.

In 1954, the Munichers went to the other extreme - to the smallest. The BMW Isetta 250 appeared on the roads of Germany, or, as the manufacturers called it, a motorcycle coupe. In the people this something has received the name "egg on wheels". Under the so-called hood was an engine from an R-25 motorcycle. All this pulled exactly twelve "horses". Most likely "pony".

Two years later, BMW, impressed by the unexpected popularity of the three-wheeled little car, laid another "egg" - Isetta 300. Well, this was almost a car. And the 298 cc engine. cm - this is not two hundred and forty-five for you. Another one came to the twelve "horses". New.

Whatever it was, but Izett sold almost one hundred and thirty-seven thousand. They were especially loved in England. The local laws allowed the owners of the "egg" to drive it, having only the rights to a motorcycle. After all, there is only one wheel in the back.

In the winter of 1959, a financial crisis broke out in Germany. Those fifteen million marks that the Bremen king of the timber industry Herman Krags poured into the company two years ago have become just pleasant memories.

The Board of Directors of BMW, I want to believe, with a sharp pain in the heart decides to merge with Mercedes. However, small shareholders and, oddly enough, official dealers of the company spoke out quite harshly against this. They were able to get BMW's main shareholder Herbert Quandt to buy out most of it. The rest received compensation, but the company was still saved.

The new board of directors makes a decision that the company followed for the next few decades - "We produce medium-class cars and aircraft engines."

Three years later, also in winter, but now it was more pleasant than ever, the BMW 1500 rolled off the assembly line. This car became a new class among four-wheelers and, most importantly, turned the Germans away from American middle-class cars.

1500 with a "herd" of eighty "horses" accelerated to 150 km / h. The newcomer scored a hundred in 16.8 seconds. And that automatically made it a sports car. The demand for it was phenomenal. The factory assembled fifty cars a day. Just a year later, almost 24,000 BMW 1500s were rushing along the autobahns.

The younger, but more powerful "brother", was born in 1968. By Christmas, the BMW 2500 found its first owners. There were more than two and a half thousand of them. After nine years of production, 95,000 cars have dispersed to all corners of Germany. One hundred and fifty "horses", if there were only two passengers in the car, accelerated the BMW 2500 to 190 km / h. In the same year, a slightly redesigned 2500 won the Spa 24 Hours.

In 1972, after much deliberation, BMW returned to the "five". And from now on, all cars produced by the Bavarians had a serial number depending on the class. BMW 520 1972 release was the first post-war "five".

But here's what was weird. The new Bavarian middleweight was powered not by a six, but by a four-cylinder engine. It took five years for all the other "fives" to receive a six-cylinder implant. Naturally, 115 horses were not enough for a weight of 1275 kg. However, she took the 520 to others: both a manual and an automatic were offered to customers. The dashboard was illuminated with a dim orange light. Moreover, the car was equipped with seat belts. So a year later, 45,000 people honestly buckled up every morning before living thirteen fast seconds to a hundred.

All in the same 1972, BMW creates a paradise for engineers and mechanics who are in love with motorsport. BMW Motorsport begins its triumphal procession. And again we repeat the banal: "If only..." So, if at that moment Lamborghini had not caved in under the financial crisis, BMW would have used the services of Italians. But the Bavarians reacted instantly.

And in 1978, at the Paris Motor Show, the “M1 project” or E26 was presented to the world for internal use. Designed the first "emku" Giorgio Giugiaro (Giorgio Guigiaro). Therefore, there is a bad feeling that it is kind of like a Ferrari, but something is missing. Let it be. But 277 “horses” were removed from three and a half liters (455 is a racing version), and the car accelerated to a hundred in six seconds.

And then Bernie Ecclstone (Berni Ecclstone) and BMW Motosport chief Jochen Neerpach (Jochen Neerpach) agreed to hold on the M1, on Saturdays, before the start of the European Grand Prix, Procar test runs. They were attended by those who took the first five places on the starting grid.

While the athletes enjoyed the M1, BMW did not forget about ordinary buyers. Launched in 1975, the first new "three-ruble note" with engines of 1.6 and 2 liters came to the Germans to taste. And now, three years later, Munich releases the BMW 323i, which has become the leader of its class and its time.

The injection six-cylinder engine allowed the car to reach a maximum speed of 196 km / h. The first hundred 323 caught up in nine seconds. However, among the competitors-classmates, the “three” turned out to be the most “gluttonous”: 14 liters per hundred kilometers. And after 420 kilometers, 323 sadly stopped, but Mercedes and Alfa Romeo ... And still, from 1975 to 1983, the BMW 316, 320 and 323 gave pleasure to almost 1.5 million people with their behavior.

In 1977, it was time for the seventh BMW series. They were equipped with four types of engines with a capacity of 170 to 218 "horses". For two years, the "seven" regularly found their customers. And then in 1979, Mercedes-Benz introduced its new S-Class.

From Munich they answered immediately. The volume is 2.8 liters. And the "herd" of 184 thoroughbred "horses", tightened under the blue and white propeller, predatory flared nostrils. The new 728 instantly drew buyers from the Stuttgart region of Germany. In principle, there was something to peck at. A one and a half ton car was traveling at a speed of 200 km/h. And all this pleasure cost a little cheaper than a Mercedes.

“There is no need to look for some unusual car for yourself. Just decide what you need in this life. The advertising appeal was addressed to those who saw the BMW 635 CSi for the first time. The E24 body quickly broke into the automotive world in 1982. After the fans of the "sixth" series have already managed to enjoy 628 and 630.

BMW realized that people who buy a sports coupe do it in order to engage in automotive discrimination on the roads. 635 stuffed with the latest technical advances. For example, electronics that allowed using a manual box to lower the engine speed to 1000 rpm. And a year later, the wizards from BMW Motosport worked on the 635, bringing the engine power to 286 “horses”. The “gas to the floor” mode drove the M6 ​​into a frenzy, and after thirty seconds the “emka” went to the point of 200 km / h. Ten seconds faster than the "500th" Mercedes. But that was not all.

In 1983, the first F1 championship for turbocharged cars was held. And who would doubt that the first champion will be Renault, the first to master this technology for the first Formula.

In South Africa, in the town of Kyalami, Alain Prost (Alain Prost) has already seen himself covered in champagne. However, the Branham BMW car, driven by the Brazilian Nelson Piquet, covered the Renault diamond with a white and blue propeller and nine letters: BMW M Power.

At peak power, the M 12/13 engine produced 1280 "horses" at 11,000 rpm. BMW, for the first time in the history of the competition of engines, became the very first F1 world champions among turbocharged cars. And what is most offensive for the French, no one was surprised by this victory.

And this race was started by Mercedes in 1990. The Stuttgarters launched their 190 with a sixteen-valve 2.5-liter engine into the series. Munich did not hesitate to respond. Therefore, in defiance of 190, BMW Motorsport rolled out the M3 Sport Evolution. The same famous M3 in the back of the E30.

Sitting behind the wheel of the "emka" could choose the type of suspension, depending on road conditions. You choose sport, and the car bites into the track. Plus normal and comfort.

The Munich Evo catapulted to a hundred in 6.3 seconds, and after another twenty the “emka” rushed at a speed of 200. But what most of all bribed the true fans of speed, deprived of racing cars, was the red three-point seat belts. They say that a nasty buzzer annoyed a little when the emka picked up its maximum speed - 248 km / h.

Three years before the release of the M3 Evo, BMW returned to the idea of ​​its own roadster. It was called Z1 and presented to the public at the Frankfurt Motor Show. This toy cost 80,000 marks. But long before the start of official sales, dealers had already placed five thousand orders for Z. And the last letter of the Latin alphabet, which the car was called, means in Germany a neatly curved wheel axle. The biggest disadvantage of the BMW roadster was the small trunk. The biggest plus is 170 "horses" and 225 km / h in addition.

In 1989, BMW finally entered the territory of luxury cars occupied by Mercedes. The 8th series rolled off the assembly line. Under the hood of the 850i was a twelve-cylinder engine with a capacity of 300 “horses” borrowed from the 750 (in 1992, its return was increased to 380).

However, the six-speed manual proved to be less popular than the automatic. "850th", unlike other high-speed models, did not begin to supply an electronic speed limiter at 250 km / h. This was the maximum speed.

By this time, almost a year had passed since the most famous “five”, which still in spite of everything inspires respect for the E34, traveled across various continents, including Russia. But, knowing the insidiousness of BMW, they expected something from the “Wow!” series. And they waited.

First, in April 1989, the three hundred and fifteen strong M5 appeared. But in 1992 they finally waited. The M5 E34 appeared, "charged" with 380 horsepower. Up to a hundred "emochka" fired in six and a half seconds. How much she squeezed the maximum, so no one ever knew. Almost immediately, another "emka" came out, performed by touring.

And American journalists called this car the "Car of the Century." And in order not to disappoint his fans, he has undergone the most "insignificant" changes. His 286 horsepower engine, which he received in 1992, was overclocked to 321 in 1995.

All this consumed only 12 liters of gasoline per hundred kilometers, while accelerating to hundreds in five and a half seconds. But the M3 in the back of the E36 for some reason was not considered a sports car.

In 1996, it was time to update the "sevens". The technically perfect BMW 740i in the back of the E38 replaced the “brother” from the E32. Everything has changed. Appearance. attitude towards the owner. No, the face of the new "seven" cannot be called friendly. But it's for strangers.

Elastic, with a volume of 4.4 liters, eight-cylinder engine spun to the maximum already at 3900 rpm and allowed to go to the point in six and a half seconds. That's just the trick "sat down, but went" with the "740th" did not work. The instruction manual for the "seven" differed from the instructions for behavior in the space shuttle quite a bit. The BMW book was thinner.

There were two boxes to choose from. Moreover, a sixth, lowering, was added to the manual version. It choked the engine, reducing its thrust by seventeen percent. As a result, the consumption is only 12.5 liters per hundred kilometers. Experts in the assessment of 740 were unanimous: the dots on the "i" are dotted.

In the same year, they waited for their update and the "five". E39 burst into the automotive world. Seven engine options for every taste. And for the unhurried, and for those who are faster, but for the most unstoppable, BMW rolled out the 540th. Eight-cylinder, with a volume of 4.4 liters, the engine made it possible to accelerate the “thirty-ninth” to only 250 km / h. Bosch intervened again with its electronic limiter. Everything in this car was done to ensure that the pilot at any speed feels safe and comfortable at the same time.

In general, the end of the nineties was incredibly productive for BMW. New "fives", "sevens", the undeniable success of the Z3, all this did not make it possible even for a short break.

The new brainchild of BMW Motorsport - M Roadster - was released in 1997. There was simply a need to improve everything that was invested in the Z3. Here's an M, besides a roadster. Try to tame 321 "horses"! And keep in mind, the “emka” is lighter than the Z by one hundred and twenty kilograms and, therefore, it accelerates to a hundred in 5.4 seconds.

“Mistakes are rungs on the ladder to success,” summed up Chris Bangle after the new generation of threes was released. BMW spent more than two and a half million man-hours on their development. 2400 different parts have been completely redone. The new “three-ruble note” endured all this and in 1998 appeared before the public in all its glory.

The most powerful modification - 328 - gained one hundred kilometers in less than seven seconds. “Phenomenal power and incredible traction” is all about her.

In 1997, at the Frankfurt Motor Show, people stomped around the BMW stand in obvious bewilderment. Z3 Coupe causes an unpredictable reaction.

“You either accept it or forgive it,” Bangle replied. And really, how do you feel about a car that looks like a roadster from the front? And in the back like a new "three-ruble-touring"?

Z3 Coupe was equipped with only two types of engines: 2.8 liters, 192 horsepower and 321-horsepower M-engine. They say that from the second glance at the "Munich runner" they fell in love with him forever.

"A wolf in sheep's clothing" - this is how the first M5 in the 39th body was described. In general, they are right. Moreover, the first photographs of the "emka" were taken in a blue haze. You look at it: well, yes, four pipes. Well, the mirrors are different. But the foglights are very oval. But this is when you don’t know what the letter M with a five on the right is.

M5 is 400 “horses” that accelerate a four-door sedan to hundreds in just five point and three tenths of a second. Only a plane or a sportbike is faster, at worst. One problem - M5 have their regular customers since 1985, and only a thousand people a year can afford to "tame the Munich wolf."

Inspired by the success of the Z3, in 1999 the BMW plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA fired again. And although the X5 is made in America, it is a completely German car. The second attempt to conquer the New World market was a success. Moreover, Munich's breakthrough into the niche of the so-called parquet SUVs was so swift that only a few months after the premiere, competitors realized that the X5 was presented in the heart of the American car industry - in Detroit. Confusion and whispers passed through the rows: “BMW made a jeep!”

The then market leader, Mercedes ML, braced for the worst. And it was from what. Bayern succeeded. The traction control system, dynamic stability control sensors and other BMW high-tech developments of recent years did not disappoint fans of speed and comfort at all. In addition, the X5 showed its best side and off-road. Plus ten airbags. In general, there is nothing to worry about.

The X5 was equipped not only with the well-known eight-cylinder engine. Both a six-cylinder and a diesel engine with direct fuel injection were offered to choose from.

Finally, a quote from the German magazine AutoMotor und Sport: "This car flies one lap around the Nürburgring in less than nine minutes." Faster only Z7. In 2000, the Z7 made one revolution around the eminent track a minute faster.

In 2002, the BMW Group achieved a record number of sales - 1,057,000 vehicles, and also became the winner of the "Car of the Year in Russia" contest. In 2003, the most luxurious model of the BMW 7 Series, the BMW 760i and 760Li, was introduced, and the new BMW 5 Series Sedan appeared.

BMW is one of the few automotive firms that doesn't use robots in its factories. All assembly on the conveyor goes only manually. At the output - only computer diagnostics of the main parameters of the car.

The concern is the founder of the international award in the field of avant-garde music Musica Viva, supports the holding of theater festivals and innovative exhibitions. The desire for a creative combination of art and technology is most vividly embodied in the unique collection of BMW art cars.

The BMW empire, which has been on the verge of collapse three times in its history, has risen and succeeded each time. For everyone in the world, the BMW concern is synonymous with high standards in the field of automotive comfort, safety, technology and quality.

Many manufacturers offer compact hatchbacks as their most inexpensive models. BMW, of course, knew about the passion of the inhabitants of small European cities for compact hatchbacks. Of those more or less suitable in terms of these parameters, the company could only offer a third-series coupe, which with a creak fit into the middle class, not to mention some kind of accessibility of the car. The basic version of the projected first series was supposed to be half the price of the third series coupe, but at the same time remain a fast luxury car.

And so it happened: in 2004, the BMW 116i with a 1.6-liter engine and 115 horsepower, respectively, started in Germany with a mark of 20 thousand euros. Modest, but not cheap. The cost of the three-liter 130i, burning with heat 265 "horses" was approaching the price of the 5 series, not to mention the extreme tuning options with heavy-duty engines. Some studios even offer versions with 8-cylinder engines. Success in the release of the first compact hatchback was definitely on the side of BMW.

The increased demand for luxury sports cars has pushed the Bavarian concern to revive the legendary sixth series. The uproar over what exactly BMW's next historic model would be was quickly silenced as 3.0 and 4.5-liter engines roared inside the coupé's impressive size. For those who did not understand, they showed a five-liter V10, fraught with 507 horsepower. It was already M6.