BMW stands for Bayerische Motoren Werke (Bavarian Motor Works). BMW was created in 1917 from the Munich-based company Rapp Motorenwerke. In 1920, it became part of Knorr-Bremse AG. In 1922, it became Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, the successor to Bayerische Flugzeugwerke AG, founded in 1916. 1916 was thus the year BMW was founded.
First motorcycle, first car
In 1923, the first BMW motorcycle, the R 32, comes onto the market. This was followed in 1933 by the BMW 303, the first automobile developed entirely by the brand. At the end of the Second World War, BMW ceased production of aircraft engines.