In after the war was over, the very first vehicle wearing the BMW badge to roll out of the factory gates was the R 24 motorcycle, and the first post-war automobile manufactured by BMW was the gorgeous , introduced in The official description from BMW is that the alternating blue and white quarters represent the Bavarian flag, rather than the rotating airplane propeller that some have said. Unlike many of its contemporaries, BMW has managed to remain an independent company.
In fact, they have become the purchaser of several different brands, such as MINI and Rolls-Royce, which they acquired the branding and naming rights to in the early s. From The Track to The Street. Like many manufacturers, BMW has an illustrious history in motorsport. BMW was only getting warmed up. In , they began to construct their first overseas manufacturing plant in Rosslyn, near Pretoria in South Africa.
Once the installation was completed, it employed over 1, employees and manufactured over 53, units of the BMW 3 series each year. During this time, South Africa was still recovering from the aftermath of Apartheid thus times were uncertain. BMW made sure to enact laws against discrimination and paid its workers fair wages. BMW also worked with local agencies and provided support to the local schools in the area. In , the company launched their newest BMW Motorsport subsidiary. BMW Motorsport was known for its top of the line standards and began to gain recognition for the power and quality of its vehicles.
With its new found popularity, BMW changed the direction of the company and began manufacturing sports cars for the common man. Following the wild success of the BMW Motorsport subsidiary, new lineups such as the BMW Mountains, Yachtsport, and Golfsport began to introduce high-quality performance based vehicles to the market. Over the decades, the name BMW became synonymous with luxury. With its lines of sedans and sports cars, BMW became one of the great cornerstones of the automobile industry.
Their attention to detail, amongst other things, resonated with the market. BMW was also known for its daring and ingenuity. The facility hosted an army of engineers, managers, scientists, designers, and other innovative staff to collaborate and create luxury top of the line vehicles.
This newest move allowed BMW not only to expand its global operations, but it also allowed the company to manufacturer cars right in the backyard of its biggest consumer. The first plant was built in Spartanburg, South Carolina and was completely dedicated to producing the Z3 roadster. To this day, the plant continues to produce the Z3 as well as the X3 , X5 , and X6.
Initially, BMW had big plans involving the Rover Group, but they eventually sold the group in , keeping the Mini model for their own purposes.
BMW was able to gain both the naming rights for Rolls-Royce vehicles and the ownership of the brand. Having survived two world wars, BMW has proven that it is an active, vital organization with the will to survive. Entering a new century, BMW began to concentrate on growing and changing once more.
The company put the last holdover from the Rover Group, The Mini, to work by building a plant that specialized in manufacturing the vehicle. It was in that same year that BMW pulled out of its financial slump, with German entrepreneur Herbert Quandt acquiring a controlling interest in the firm and BMW launching its series, followed by the equally successful and sought after models.
If that was not enough to kickstart the company, BMW introduced a new series of motorcycles that were extremely popular in the United States, and still are to this day! Throughout the s, BMW continued to expand its range, adding coupe and luxury sedan models to its line up.
In , BMW moved to its new and its current headquarters in Munich, a truly unique building based on a four cylinder engine. In that same year, the automaker unveiled its first V12 engine in the i luxury sedan.
It was in that the company began production outside of Germany, setting up new factories in South Carolina, where the X5 and X6 are produced today, Oxford, Goodwood, South Africa and other locations. Also that year, the 6 Series was released to meet customer demand.
By the end of the 20th century, BMW had established itself as one of the top automobile brands, becoming the epitome of class, quality and performance. Despite that, however, there was another setback, with BMW making a failed attempt to gain market share as a sport-utility-vehicle company.
They retained only the Mini and Rolls Royce models. A two-seat roadster entered the picture in the mid to late s, with BMW expanding its lineup once again. The road to success continues….. On 10 January , a new vehicle concept was unveiled to the world for the first time at the Detroit Auto Show. The BMW X5 offered drivers an unprecedented combination of hallmark BMW dynamics and sporting ability, together with the talents of an all-wheel-drive off-roader, creating a whole new market segment in the process.
The Eberhard von Kuenheim Foundation was established in in honour of Eberhard v. Kuenheim left his mark on the development of the company, first as Chairman of the Board of Management and later as Chairman of the Supervisory Board. Under his direction, BMW AG developed from a traditional automobile and motorcycle manufacturer to a prestige global brand.
The mission of the foundation is to foster entrepreneurial thought and behaviour — beyond the context of business. Under the motto "freude am neu:wagen", the Eberhard von Kuenheim Foundation develops and tests new model solutions to contemporary social issues in the areas of education, work and sustainability. The entire model range was expanded with new series and variants.
Initial production forecasts of , units per annum more than doubled to over , units in owing to high global demand. The first model to leave the production halls is the new Rolls-Royce Phantom. Every car is individually made. After an intense development phase, Rolls-Royce unveiled the new Phantom in The Phantom fully embodies the traditional values of Rolls-Royce and at the same time symbolises the successful re-launch of the brand.
In September , the new Rolls-Royce Ghost heralds the arrival of a second model family. The Ghost offers an authentic, though more informal, interpretation of traditional Rolls-Royce values. In , the line-up was expanded to include the Wraith — the most powerful, most dynamic Rolls-Royce ever built. With the BMW 1 Series, BMW brought the hallmarks of the brand — exceptional driving dynamics and premium quality — to the compact segment for the first time.
The Dadong plant in Shenyang opened in May the following year, producing cars exclusively for the local market. In , a second plant, Plant Tiexi also opened in Shenyang. The plant was designed for daily production of vehicles over the medium term, with 5, jobs when the plant is operating at full capacity.
The architectural profile in Leipzig is defined by the central building designed by Zaha Hadid, which was awarded the German Architecture Prize in This progressive building designed by Viennese architects Coop Himmelb l au forms the portal for the brand and serves as the delivery centre for BMW automobiles. It aligns the BMW Group with two targets: to be profitable and to enhance long-term value in times of change.
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