Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, trading asBMW Group (commonly abbreviated toBMW (German pronunciation:[ˌbeːʔɛmˈveː]ⓘ), sometimes anglicised asBavarian Motor Works), is a German multinational manufacturer ofluxury vehicles andmotorcycles headquartered inMunich,Bavaria, Germany. The company was founded in 1916 as a manufacturer ofaircraft engines, which it produced from 1917 to 1918 and again from 1933 to 1945 creating engines for aircraft that were used in theSecond World War.
BMW isheadquartered in Munich and produces motor vehicles in Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, India, China, and previously also in the Netherlands (ceased in 2023).[6] TheQuandt family [de] is a long-term shareholder of the company, following investments by the brothersHerbert andHarald Quandt in 1959 that saved BMW frombankruptcy, with the remaining shares owned bythe public.
TheOtto Flugmaschinenfabrik was founded in 1910 byGustav Otto in theKingdom of Bavaria, which was a state of theGerman Empire. The firm was reorganized on 7 March 1916 intoBayerische Flugzeugwerke AG. This company was then renamed toBayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) in 1922. However, the name BMW dates back to 1913, when a company to use the name was founded byKarl Rapp initially asRapp Motorenwerke. The name andRapp Motorenwerke's engine-production assets were transferred toBayerische Flugzeugwerke in 1922, who adopted the name the same year.[7] BMW's first product was produced for fighter aircraft of theLuftstreitkräfte. It was a straight-six aircraft engine called theBMW IIIa, designed in the spring of 1917 by engineerMax Friz. Following the end of World War I, BMW remained in business by producing motorcycle engines, agricultural equipment, household items, and railway brakes. The company produced its first motorcycle, theBMW R 32, in 1923.
BMW became an automobile manufacturer in 1928 when it purchased Fahrzeugfabrik Eisenach, which, at the time, built theAustin 7 under licence fromDixi.[8] The first car sold as a BMW was a rebadgedBMW Dixi called theBMW 3/15, following BMW's acquisition of the car manufacturer Automobilwerk Eisenach. Throughout the 1930s, BMW expanded its range into sports cars and larger luxury cars.[9][10]
Aircraft engines, motorcycles, and automobiles would be BMW's main products until World War II. During the war, BMW concentrated on theBMW 801 aircraft engine using as many as 40,000 slave laborers.[11] These consisted primarily of prisoners fromNazi concentration camps, most prominentlyDachau. Motorcycles remained as a side-line and automobile manufacture ceased altogether.
BMW's factories were heavily bombed during the war and its remaining West German facilities were banned from producing motor vehicles or aircraft after the war. Again, the company survived by making pots, pans, and bicycles. In 1948, BMW restarted motorcycle production. BMW resumed car production in Bavaria in 1952 with theBMW 501 luxury saloon. The range of cars was expanded in 1955, through the production of the cheaperIsetta microcar under licence. Slow sales of luxury cars and small profit margins from microcars, meant BMW was in serious financial trouble and in 1959 the company was nearly taken over by rival Daimler-Benz.[12][13]
A large investment in BMW byHerbert Quandt andHarald Quandt resulted in the company surviving as a separate entity.Günther Quandt was a well-known German industrialist and joined theNazi party in 1933; he made a fortune arming the German Wehrmacht, manufacturing weapons and batteries.[14] Many of his enterprises were appropriated from Jewish owners under duress with minimal compensation. At least three of his enterprises made extensive use of slave laborers, as many as 50,000 in all.[15] One of his battery factories had its own on-site concentration camp, complete with gallows. Life expectancy for laborers was six months.[15][16] While Quandt and BMW were not directly connected during the war, funds amassed in the Nazi era by his father allowed Herbert Quandt to buy BMW.[11]
The relative success of the smallBMW 700 assisted in the company's recovery, allowing them to develop the New Class sedans.
The 1962 introduction of theBMW New Class compact sedans was the beginning of BMW's reputation as a leading manufacturer of sport-oriented cars. Throughout the 1960s, BMW expanded its range by adding coupé and luxury sedan models. TheBMW 5 Series mid-size sedan range was introduced in 1972, followed by theBMW 3 Series compact sedans in 1975, theBMW 6 Series luxury coupés in 1976 and theBMW 7 Series large luxury sedans in 1978.
TheBMW M division released its first road car, theM1, a mid-engine supercar, in 1978. This was followed by theBMW M5 in 1984 and theBMW M3 in 1986. Also in 1986, BMW introduced its first V12 engine in the 750i luxury sedan. The 1989BMW Z1 marked BMW's return to making a two-seat roadster, the 1995BMW Z3 was their first mass-production two-seat roadster, and the 1999BMW X5 was the company's first entry into the SUV market.
The company purchased theRover Group in 1994, but the takeover was not successful and caused BMW large financial losses. In 2000, BMW sold off most of the Rover brands, retaining only the Mini brand. In 1998, BMW also acquired the rights to the Rolls-Royce brand fromVickers.
The first modern mass-produced turbocharged petrol engine was introduced in 2006 (from 1973 to 1975, BMW built 1,672 units of a turbochargedBMW M10 engine for theBMW 02 Series),[17] with most engines switching over to turbocharging over the 2010s. The first hybrid BMW was the 2010BMW ActiveHybrid 7, and BMW's first mass-production electric car was theBMW i3 city car, which was released in 2013, (from 1968 to 1972, BMW built two battery-electricBMW 1602 Elektro saloons for the 1972 Olympic Games).[18] After many years of establishing a reputation for sporting rear-wheel drive cars, BMW's firstfront-wheel drive car was the 2014BMW 2 Series Active Tourermulti-purpose vehicle (MPV).
In March 2018, Daimler and BMW merged their mobility services.[19]
In January 2021, BMW announced that its sales in 2020 fell by 8.4 percent due to the impact ofCOVID-19 pandemic restrictions. However, in the fourth quarter of 2020, BMW witnessed a rise of 3.2% in its customers' demands.[21] This recovery was supported by the company's adoption of widely accepted technologies and integration of third-party services such as Apple Pay and on-demand music as well as key partnerships such as its collaboration with Daimler on autonomous driving.[22][23] Additionally, BMW's strategic investment decisions which include localizing production of its SUVs to the Spartanburg plant in the U.S., placed the group in a position to easily navigate trade challenges and shifting consumer patterns.[22]
On 18 January 2022 BMW announced a BMW 7 Series (G11) special edition simply called "The Final V12",[24] the last BMW series production vehicle to be fitted with a V-12 engine.[24]
On 5 October 2023 it was announced that BMW UK CEO Chris Brownridge would succeed Torsten Müller-Ötvös as the CEO of Rolls-Royce starting 1 December 2023, as a result of Müller-Ötvös retiring.[25]
BMW is an abbreviation forBayerische Motoren Werke. This name is grammatically incorrect (in German, compound words must not contain spaces), which is why the grammatically correct form of the name,Bayerische Motorenwerke (German pronunciation:[ˈbaɪʁɪʃəmoˈtoːʁənˌvɛʁkə]ⓘ) has been used in several publications and advertisements in the past.[26][27]Bayerische Motorenwerke translates into English asBavarian Motor Works.[28] The suffix AG, short forAktiengesellschaft, signifies an incorporated entity owned by shareholders, thus akin to "Inc." (US) or PLC, "Public Limited Company" (UK).
The terms Beemer, Bimmer and Bee-em are sometimes used asslang for BMW in the English language[29][30] and are sometimes used interchangeably for cars and motorcycles.[31][32][33]
The circular blue and white BMW logo orroundel evolved from the circularRapp Motorenwerke company logo, which featured a black ring bearing the company name surrounding the company logo,[34] an image of a horse head on a plinth. BMW retained Rapp's black ring inscribed with the company name, but the interior of the ring is quartered blue and white, reminiscent of thecoat of arms andflag of Bavaria (which in turn are based on the arms of the historicHouse of Wittelsbach, whichruled Bavaria for many centuries).[34] The logo does not bear the distinctive lozenge shape found on the coat of arms, however, as local laws at the time it was introduced forbade the use of state coats of arms on commercial logos.[35]
A persistent myth claims that the logo is based on the image of an airplane propeller spinning in a blue sky. This myth likely stems from a 1929 BMW advertisement that depicted the logo superimposed on a rotating propeller. However, the logo predates that advertisement by 12 years.[34][36]
The current iteration of the logo was introduced in 2020,[37] removing 3D effects that had been used in previous renderings of the logo while removing the black outline encircling the rondel. The logo is used for BMW's branding communications but it is not used on vehicles.[38][39]
The slogan 'The Ultimate Driving Machine' was first used in North America in 1974.[40][41] In 2010, this long-lived campaign was mostly supplanted by a campaign intended to make the brand more approachable and to better appeal to women, 'Joy'. By 2012 BMW had returned to 'The Ultimate Driving Machine'.[42]
BMW began production of motorcycle engines and then motorcycles after World War I.[50] Its motorcycle brand is now known asBMW Motorrad. Their first successful motorcycle after the failed Helios and Flink, was the "R32" in 1923, though production originally began in 1921.[51] This had a "boxer" twin engine, in which a cylinder projects into the air-flow from each side of the machine. Apart from their single-cylinder models (basically to the same pattern), all their motorcycles used this distinctive layout until the early 1980s. Many BMW's are still produced in this layout, which is designated theR Series.
The entire BMW Motorcycle production has, since 1969, been located at the company's Berlin-Spandau factory.
During the Second World War, BMW produced theBMW R75 motorcycle with a motor-drivensidecar attached, combined with a lockabledifferential, this made the vehicle very capable off-road.[52][53]
In 1982, came theK Series, shaft drive but water-cooled and with either three or four cylinders mounted in a straight line from front to back. Shortly after, BMW also started making the chain-drivenF andG series with single and parallel twinRotax engines.
In the early 1990s, BMW updated theairhead Boxer engine which became known as theoilhead. In 2002, the oilhead engine had two spark plugs per cylinder. In 2004 it added a built-in balance shaft, an increased capacity to 1,170 cc (71 cu in) and enhanced performance to 75 kW (101 hp) for theR1200GS, compared to 63 kW (84 hp) of the previousR1150GS. More powerful variants of the oilhead engines are available in the R1100S and R1200S, producing 73 and 91 kW (98 and 122 hp), respectively.
In 2004, BMW introduced the new K1200S Sports Bike which marked a departure for BMW. It had an engine producing 125 kW (168 hp), derived from the company's work with the Williams F1 team, and is lighter than previous K models. Innovations include electronically adjustable front and rear suspension, and a Hossack-type front fork that BMW calls Duolever.
BMW introducedanti-lock brakes on production motorcycles starting in the late 1980s. The generation of anti-lock brakes available on the 2006 and later BMW motorcycles paved the way for the introduction ofelectronic stability control, or anti-skid technology later in the 2007 model year.
BMW has been an innovator in motorcycle suspension design, taking up telescopic front suspension long before most other manufacturers. Then they switched to anEarles fork, front suspension by swinging fork (1955 to 1969). Most modern BMWs are truly rear swingarm, single sided at the back (compare with the regular swinging fork usually, and wrongly, calledswinging arm). Some BMWs started using yet another trademark front suspension design, the Telelever, in the early 1990s. Like the Earles fork, the Telelever significantly reduces dive under braking.[54]
BMW Group, on 31 January 2013, announced that Pierer Industrie AG has boughtHusqvarna Motorcycles for an undisclosed amount, which will not be revealed by either party in the future. The company is headed by Stephan Pierer (CEO of KTM). Pierer Industrie AG is 51% owner of KTM and 100% owner of Husqvarna.
In September 2018, BMW unveiled a new self-driving motorcycle with BMW Motorrad with a goal of using the technology to help improve road safety.[55] The design of thebike was inspired by the company'sBMW R1200 GS model.[56]
2 Series two-door coupes (model codeG42), "Active Tourer" five-seat MPVs (U06), four-door "Gran Coupe" fastback sedans (model codeF74) and long wheelbase model exclusive to China (F78).
3 Series four-door sedans (model codeG20), five-door station wagons (G21) and long wheelbase model exclusive to China (G28).
4 Series two-door coupes (model codeG22), two-door convertibles (model codeG23) and five-door "Gran Coupe" fastbacks (model codeG26).
5 Series four-door sedans (model codeG60), five-door station wagons (G61) and long wheelbase model exclusive to China (G68).
In addition, several plug-in hybrid models built on existing platforms have been marketed asiPerformance models. Examples include the225xe using a 1.5 L three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor, the330e/530e using a 2.0 L four-cylinder engine with an electric motor,[57][58] and the550e/750e using a 3.0 L six-cylinder engine with an electric motor.[58][59] Also,crossover andSUV plug-in hybrid models have been released using i technology:X1 xDrive25e,X2 xDrive25e,X3 xDrive30e, andX5 xDrive40e.[60]
The letter "M" is also often used in the marketing of BMW's regular models, for example theF20 M140i model, theG11 M760Li model and various optional extras called "M Sport", "M Performance" or similar.
The globalBMW Headquarters in Munich represents the cylinder head of afour-cylinder engine. It was designed byKarl Schwanzer and was completed in 1972. The building has become a European icon[66] and was declared a protected historic building in 1999. The main tower consists of four vertical cylinders standing next to and across from each other. Each cylinder is divided horizontally in its center by a mold in the facade. Notably, these cylinders do not stand on the ground; they are suspended on a central support tower.
BMW Museum is a futuristic cauldron-shaped building, which was also designed by Karl Schwanzer and opened in 1972.[67] The interior has a spiral theme and the roof is a 40-metre diameter BMW logo.
BMW Welt, the company's exhibition space in Munich, was designed byCoop Himmelb(l)au and opened in 2007. It includes a showroom and lifting platforms where a customer's new car is theatrically unveiled to the customer.[68]
In 1975, sculptorAlexander Calder was commissioned to paint the BMW 3.0 CSL racing car driven byHervé Poulain at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which became the first in the series of BMW Art Cars. Since Calder's work of art, many other renowned artists throughout the world have created BMW Art Cars, includingDavid Hockney,Jenny Holzer,Roy Lichtenstein,Robert Rauschenberg,Frank Stella, andAndy Warhol.[66] To date, a total of 19 BMW Art Cars, based on both racing and regular production vehicles, have been created.
BMW sponsors a number of awards in the visual arts. These include the BMW Art Journey award, which honors a young or mid-career artist in collaboration withArt Basel, and the BMW Painting Award, which was created to promote painting in Spain by finding new talent and showcasing their work.[69][70]
BMW was the principal sponsor of the 1998The Art of the Motorcycle exhibition at variousGuggenheim museums, though the financial relationship between BMW and the Guggenheim Foundation was criticised in many quarters.[71][72]
In 2012, BMW began sponsoringIndependent Collectors production of theBMW Art Guide, which is the first global guide to private and publicly accessible collections of contemporary art worldwide.[73] The fourth edition, released in 2016, features 256 collections from 43 countries.[74]
BMW also has local assembly operation usingcomplete knock-down (CKD) components in Brazil, Thailand, Russia, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia and India.[78]
In the UK, BMW has a Mini factory near Oxford, plants in Swindon and Hams Hall, and Rolls-Royce vehicle assembly at Goodwood. In 2020, these facilities were shut down for the period from 23 March to 17 April due to the coronavirus outbreak.[79]
The BMW group (including Mini and Rolls-Royce) produced 1,366,838 automobiles in 2006 and then 1,481,253 automobiles in 2010.[80][81] BMW Motorcycles are being produced at the company's Berlin factory, which earlier had produced aircraft engines for Siemens.
By 2011, about 56% of BMW-brand vehicles produced are powered by petrol engines and the remaining 44% are powered by diesel engines. Of those petrol vehicles, about 27% are four-cylinder models and about nine percent are eight-cylinder models.[82] On average, 9,000 vehicles per day exit BMW plants, and 63% are transported by rail.[83]
Annual production since 2005, according to BMW's annual reports:[81]
Year
BMW
MINI
Rolls-Royce
Motorcycle*
2005
1,122,308
200,119
692
92,013
2006
1,179,317
186,674
847
103,759
2007
1,302,774
237,700
1,029
104,396
2008
1,203,482
235,019
1,417
118,452
2009
1,043,829
213,670
918
93,243
2010
1,236,989
241,043
3,221
112,271
2011
1,440,315
294,120
3,725
110,360
2012
1,547,057
311,490
3,279
113,811
2013
1,699,835
303,177
3,354
110,127
2014
1,838,268
322,803
4,495
133,615
2015
1,933,647
342,008
3,848
151,004
2016
2,002,997
352,580
4,179
145,555
2017
2,123,947
378,486
3,308
185,682
2018
2,168,496
368,685
4,353
162,687
2019
2,205,841
352,729
5,455
187,116
2020
1,980,740
271,121
3,776
168,104
2021
2,166,644
288,713
5,912
187,500
Annual sales and deliveries since 1972, according to BMW's annual reports:
Year
BMW
MINI
Rolls-Royce
Motorcycle*
1972
182,858
1973
197,446
1974
184,330
1975
226,688
1976
275,596
1977
288,260
1978
321,196
1979
335,132
1980
339,232
1981
348,946
1982
377,684
1983
422,500
1984
434,300
1985
440,700
1986
446,100
1987
459,500
1988
495,800
1989
523,000
1990
525,900
1991
552,700
1992
582,493
1993
534,397
1994
573,000
1995
595,000
1996
644,107
1997
675,076
1998
699,378
1999
751,272
2000
822,181
2001
880,677
2002
913,225
2003
928,000
2004
1,023,583
2005
1,126,798
200,428
797
97,474
2006
1,185,088
188,077
805
100,064
2007
1,276,793
222,875
1,010
102,467
2008
1,202,239
232,425
1,212
115,196
2009
1,068,770
216,538
1,002
100,358
2010
1,224,280
234,175
2,711
110,113
2011
1,380,384
285,060
3,538
113,572
2012
1,540,085
301,525
3,575
117,109
2013
1,655,138
305,030
3,630
115,215**
2014
1,811,719
302,183
4,063
123,495
2015
1,905,234
338,466
3,785
136,963
2016
2,003,359
360,233
4,011
145,032
2017
2,088,283
371,881
3,362
164,153
2018
2,114,963
364,135
4,194
165,566
2019
2,185,793
347,474
5,100
175,162
2020
2,028,841
292,582
3,756
169,272
2021
2,213,379
302,138
5,586
194,261
2022
2,100,689
2023
2,225,793
* In 2008–2012, motorcycle productions figures includeHusqvarna models. ** Excluding Husqvarna, sales volume up to 2013: 59,776 units.
In November 2016, BMW recalled 136,000 2007–2012 model year U.S. cars for fuel pump wiring problems possibly resulting in fuel leak and engine stalling or restarting issues.[84]
In 2018, BMW recalled 106,000 diesel vehicles in South Korea with a defective exhaust gas recirculation module, which caused 39 engine fires. The recall was then expanded to 324,000 more cars in Europe.[85] Following the recall in South Korea, the government banned cars which had not yet been inspected from driving on public roads.[86] This affected up to 25% of the recalled cars, where the owners had been notified but the cars had not yet been inspected. BMW is reported to have been aware since 2016 that more than 4% of the affected cars in South Korea had experienced failures in the EGR coolers,[87] leading to approximately 20 owners suing the company.[88]
Groupe PSA (predecessor toStellantis): Joint production of four-cylinder petrol engines, beginning in 2004.[91]
Daimler Benz: Joint venture to produce the hybrid drivetrain components used in theActiveHybrid 7.[92][93] Development of automated driving technology.[94]
DriveNow was a joint-venture between BMW and Sixt that operated in Europe from 2011 until 2019. By December 2012,[110] DriveNow operated over 1,000 vehicles, in five cities and with approximately 60,000 customers.[111]
In 2012, the BMW-owned subsidiary Alphabet began a corporate car-sharing service in Europe called AlphaCity.[112][113]
In 2018, BMW announced the launching of a pilot carsubscription service for the United States called Access by BMW (its first one for the country), inNashville, Tennessee. In January 2021, the company said that Access by BMW was "suspended".[115]
The first BMW production facility in China was opened in 2004, as a result of a joint venture between BMW andBrilliance Auto.[116][117] The plant was opened in theShenyang industrial area and produces 3 Series and 5 Series models for the Chinese market.[118][119] In 2012, a second factory was opened in Shenyang.[120]
Between January and November 2014, BMW sold 415,200 vehicles in China, through a network of over 440 BMW stores and 100 Mini stores.[121]
On 7 October 2021, BMW announced it would begin additional production of the X5 in China.[122]
In February 2022, BMW invested an additional $4.2 billion into the Chinese joint venture, increasing its stake from 50% to 75%, becoming one of the first foreign automakers holding majority stake in China.[123]
In June 2022, BMW announced a new plant project in Lydia, Shenyang designed for electric vehicles. It will become BMW Group's largest single project in China, costing 15 billion yuan (2.13 billion euros).[124] The investment amount was raised by a further 10 billion yuan (US$1.4 billion) in November 2022, following German ChancellorOlaf Scholz's visit to China.[125]
On 31 July 2018, BMW announced to build a 1 billion euro car factory in Hungary. The plant, to be built nearDebrecen, will have a production capacity of 150,000 cars a year.[126]
In July 2014, BMW announced it was establishing a plant in Mexico, in the city and state ofSan Luis Potosi involving an investment of $1 billion. The plant will employ 1,500 people, and produce 150,000 cars annually.[127]
The Mini Convertible,Mini Countryman and BMW X1 are currently produced in the Netherlands at theVDL Nedcar factory inBorn.[128][129] Long-term orders for the Mini Countryman ended in 2020.[130]
BMWs have been assembled in South Africa since 1968,[131] when Praetor Monteerders' plant was opened inRosslyn, nearPretoria. BMW initially bought shares in the company, before fully acquiring it in 1975; in so doing, the company becameBMW South Africa, the first wholly owned subsidiary of BMW to be established outside Germany. Unlike United States manufacturers, such asFord andGM, which divested from the country in the 1980s, BMW retained full ownership of its operations in South Africa.
Following the end ofapartheid in 1994, and the lowering of import tariffs, BMW South Africa ended local production of the 5 Series and 7 Series, in order to concentrate on production of the 3 Series for the export market. South African–built BMWs are now exported toright hand drive markets including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong, as well asSub-Saharan Africa. Since 1997, BMW South Africa has produced vehicles inleft-hand drive for export to Taiwan, the United States and Iran, as well as South America.
Three unique models thatBMW Motorsport created for the South African market were theE23 M745i (1983), which used theM88 engine from theBMW M1, the BMW 333i (1986), which added a six-cylinder 3.2-litreM30 engine to theE30,[132] and theE30 BMW 325is (1989) which was powered by anAlpina-derived 2.7-litre engine.
The plant code (position 11 in the VIN) for South African built models is "N".[133]
BMW cars have been officially sold in the United States since 1956[134] and manufactured in the United States since 1994.[135] The first BMW dealership in the United States opened in 1975.[136] In 2016, BMW was the twelfth highest selling brand in the United States.[137]
The manufacturing plant inGreer, South Carolina has the highest production of the BMW plants worldwide,[138] currently producing approximately 1,500 vehicles per day.[139] The models produced at the Spartanburg plant are theX3,X4,X5,X6,X7 andXM SUV models.
In addition to the South Carolina manufacturing facility, BMW's North American companies include sales, marketing, design, and financial services operations in the United States, Mexico, Canada and Latin America.
Since 2005, the 3 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series, X1 and X3 models sold in Egypt are assembled fromcomplete knock-down components at the BMW plant in Cairo.[142]
BMW India was established in 2006 as a sales subsidiary with a head office located inGurugram.
A BMW complete knock-down assembly plant was opened inChennai in 2007, assembling Indian-market 3 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series, X1, X3, X5, Mini Countryman and motorcycle models.[142][143] The 20 MillionEuro plant aims to produce 1,700 cars per year.
Russian-market 3 Series and 5 Series cars are assembled from complete knock-down components inKaliningrad beginning in 1999.[145] In March 2022, BMW withdrew from the Russian market and ceased production within Russia in response to theRussian invasion of Ukraine.[146]
In Uruguay, Spanish-born businessman José Arijón founded Convex (later Camur), which assembled BMW cars from 1965 to 1992. Four models were produced: the1600,2002,3 Series and5 Series, totalling 12,000 units.[147][148]
BMW Korea imports BMW vehicles in South Korea with more than fifty service centers to fully cater to South Korean customers. Also, BMW Korea has its own driving center in nearIncheon International Airport.[155]
BMW has received criticism for attempting to lock vehicle hardware features behind subscription fees. In 2018, BMW stated at the Detroit Auto Show that they will start charging users a subscription fee forApple Car Play. After receiving widespread criticism, BMW removed the subscription.[156][157] In 2022, BMW announced that they will start charging owners $18 a month to use heated seats.[158] They removed the feature in 2023 after it was criticised.[159]
^Hans List:Vorwort und Einführung zum Gesamtwerk. Band 1 von Die Verbrennungskraftmaschine, Springer, Wien, 1949.ISBN9783662294888.Verzeichnis der Abkürzungen
^Roland Löwisch:BMW - Die schönsten Modelle: 100 Jahre Design und Technik' by azar. HEEL, 2016,ISBN9783958434066. p 7.
^1982 S. BlackTotally Awesome 83 BMW ("Beemer"). 1985L.A. Times (13 April) V 4: Id much rather drive my Beemer than a truck. 1989 L. RobertsFull Cleveland 39: Baby boomers... in... late-model Beemers. 1990Hull High (NBC-TV): You should ee my dad's new Beemer. 1991Cathy (synd. cartoon strip) (21 April): Sheila... [ground] multi-grain snack chips crumbs into the back seat of my brand-new Beamer! 1992Time (18 May) 84: Its residents tend to drive pickups or subcompacts, not Beemers or Rolles.
^"BMW Fundamentals (2007-2015)". 14 February 2017. Archived from the original on 14 February 2017. Retrieved2 August 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^"BMW Fundamentals (2013-2021)". 8 December 2022. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved2 August 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^Christopher Ludwig (22 December 2016)."BMW's 'connected' logistics: Shaping a self-steering supply chain". Automotive Logistics. Archived fromthe original on 7 April 2017. Retrieved6 April 2017.logistics as the "heart of BMW's production system": 30m parts per day move from 1,800 suppliers; 7,000 sea freight containers per day, and in a year 84m cubic metres across ocean, road, rail and air freight. Outbound, around 9,000 vehicles leave BMW plants each day on their way to 4,500 dealers in 160 countries. 63% of cars leave plants by train
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