BMW is an acronym for Bayerische Motoren Werke is a German manufacturer of luxury vehicles and motorcycles. BMW is the car market that has become another name for luxury and comfort. The brand has created an image that focuses on giving the best possible quality. Different from the other players present in the automobile market, BMW has a high recognition value to it. BMW produces machines that have an unmistakable identity, having a BMW gives one a sense of prestige and class and which is difficult to find in other brands. Here, let’s know Who owns BMW?
The company produces what we can call “the ultimate driving machine“. The cars have state-of-the-art technology; BMW focuses on giving its user base the ultimate experience possible. The brand is owned by a brother-sister duo and various shareholders. BMW is owned between Stefan Quandt (29 percent) and Susanne Klatten (21 percent) the renaming (50 percent) is owned by public investors known as Public Float.
Now that we have learned about the presence of the brand, let us dive deep into its past and analyze how this hundred-year-old brand grew into such a big enterprise with recognition in over 140 countries (through direct and indirect methods). The History of BMW is quite exciting and is a story of inspiration for many.
The BMW experience
In today’s modern world, buying a car isn’t just about having something to drive. It is the opposite of that. Whether you are buying a new or used car, you want to purchase an item that will not only meet your needs but also fit in with the rest of your lifestyle and image. If you’re looking for a premium vehicle that will allow you to maintain a certain level of prestige then BMW is the brand for you.
The thrill of owning a high-end luxury vehicle is truly an amazing experience. With the advancement in technology, BMWs are now more luxurious than ever before. The German car manufacturer offers an array of vehicles that will suit any lifestyle and budget. For many people, purchasing a BMW is more than just buying a car. It’s about making an investment in yourself that says you’ve made it. In fact, for some people who have been through tough times and are now enjoying the fruits of their labor, a BMW is one of the first signs that they have made it.
Let’s talk about some BMW cars, to get a clear picture.
BMW X3
The BMW X3 is a compact luxury crossover SUV manufactured and marketed by BMW since 2003. It sits below the X5 and above the X1 in terms of size.
The car is based on a platform that was jointly developed by BMW, Audi; and Volkswagen Group for their SUVs with front-wheel drive. The car is very smooth and comfortable while driving on highways. It feels like you are driving a sedan car in the city because of its high suspension system. Its powerful engine makes your ride more enjoyable.
It is not at all like other cars which provide only low speed but this car gives you good mileage even at high speed, which is a great thing about it. It is not difficult to drive it in the city because it drives so smoothly and easily. When one is on the highway, it feels like having the private race track that takes me wherever one wants to go in just a short period.
BMW 3 Series
The BMW 3 Series has been around since 1975, and it has grown to be one of the most successful models ever made. The BMW 3 Series is the ultimate sports sedan. It’s packed with innovative technology, dynamic performance, and sophisticated style to take you further than ever before. No matter where your road leads, this is an experience that will move you – in every sense of the word.
The BMW 3 Series Sedan is a sports sedan that has been in production since 1975. The 2018 model year 3 series sedan comes equipped with a 2.0 liter 4-cylinder engine, as well as a plug-in hybrid version that offers up to 70 MPGe fuel economies and an all-electric range of 22 miles.
The interior of the BMW 3 series is spacious and comfortable for passengers with enough room to take five people in it. The Air conditioning system works perfectly well and makes your ride cool and comfortable even on hot summer days.
BMW Z4
The BMW Z4 is a roadster produced by German automaker BMW since 2002. The first generation Z4 was built under the E85 platform, and it was released in 2003. The second generation was designed to be more powerful, lightweight, nimble, and agile than its predecessor. It includes all-new suspension designs with wider track widths, new engines with increased horsepower and torque, as well as extensive use of aluminum in body panels.
The BMW Z4 is a small roadster, and if you think that driving is an art form, you’ll be pleased to hear it’s also more of a sculpture than a car. And of course, if your primary concern is more about getting from A to B and less about how it happens, there are other models on offer.
Market share
The rising demand for premium vehicles with high performance and comfort has led to the increase in the global market share of BMW. The company is now present in 160 countries and is leading the luxury automobile industry with its product quality.
The BMW Group sold a total of 2,838,200 cars and 126,700 motorcycles worldwide in 2016. As of 31 December 2016, the BMW Group had a 12.7% share of worldwide vehicle sales among all automakers. In 2014, BMW was the world’s eleventh largest automotive company by production volume.BMW remains Russia’s number one carmaker, with a market share of 13% in 2017 – up from 12.9% in 2016 and 12.6% in 2015. In the first half of 2018, BMW has increased its global market share from 11.8% to 12.7%.
In Western Europe, the growth of 0.3 percentage points was achieved with a total market share of 8.1 % (Germany: 8.0 %). The BMW Group continues to be the largest manufacturer in this key motorcycle region with a total market share of 23.4 % – an increase of 0.2 percentage points compared to the first half of 2017.
Growth prospect
The BMW Group is a leading manufacturer of luxury vehicles and motorbikes. In 2016, it achieved sales revenue of around €74 billion. The company currently has 112 production sites in 14 countries. The biggest challenge for the company in the coming years is to maintain its dominant position in the industry. It has significant growth prospects with attractive margins in new markets such as China, Russia, Latin America, and India. The company’s local manufacturing capability will help it gain a competitive edge when compared to other international carmakers in these regions.
BMW in the USA
BMW is a popular car brand in the United States. BMW has sold over 35,000 cars in the country in 2012. The company’s sales are certainly on the rise. With its recent introduction of new models, it seems that BMW is ready to capitalize on its popularity in the future.
The German car manufacturer BMW has been present in the United States for nearly 70 years, and it’s considered one of the biggest luxury vehicle brands in the world. BMW is now headquartered in Spartanburg, South Carolina, but its history can be traced back to 1916 when Karl Friedrich Rapp established a manufacturing plant for airplanes and engines near Berlin.
The first BMW automobile was produced in 1923 as an attempt to create a safer motorcycle. By the late 1970s, BMW was a small player in the American luxury car field. The Mercedes-Benz and Cadillac brands dominated the market, with Lincoln and Jaguar models showing up from time to time. In 1978, BMW sold just 5,000 vehicles in the United States. By 1987 – one decade later – that number had increased to 112,000 units per year.
BMW was one of the fastest-growing car brands in the USA during the 1990s. The 1990s was the decade that saw BMW break into the U.S. market in a big way, after years of slow growth and steady sales in Europe. The automaker sold just fewer than 100,000 vehicles in the U.S. in 1990 but by 1999, it hit 300,000 vehicles sold annually. BMW sold around 140,000 cars in 1991 and it increased 2 times to 280,000 cars in 1997.
The sales increased rapidly due to the introduction of new models at very attractive prices for Americans. In 2000, BMW sold 55,250 vehicles in America – a full 20% up on the previous year’s tally of 46,813 cars. This remarkable growth came as a result of BMW making steady improvements to its iconic 3-series sports car.
Since then it has been at an increasing number in the American market. BMW’s success in the US was due to several factors. One major difference between BMW and their competition was the design philosophy behind the cars.
Some fascinating facts about BMW
- The brand begins its operation by manufacturing aircraft engines. It still works for the aircraft industry.
- It was the Treaty of Versailles that forced BMW to start producing cars as this treaty banned Germany from producing warplanes.
- The color in the logo represents the national coloring of Bavaria.
- BMW is one of the pioneers in producing electric cars with the production of their electric car in 1972. It paved the way for the future cars that were to be made in the upcoming decades.
- The headquarters of BMW in Munich is very unique in its structure. It is designed as an A-4 cylinder engine which reflects the brand’s Heritage and its humble beginnings.
- They built the world’s fastest motorcycle at one time in history. It was in the year 1937 when they built the motorcycle that had a speed of 173.7 miles an hour.
- The brand still works for the Aerospace industry, it designs the interior for airplanes and many airlines including Singapore Airlines have their interior done by BMW.
- At one time in history, BMW and Mercedes were almost to be merged into one company. During the cold war, Mercedes was trying to take over BMW but its shareholders did not agree and they fought back against Mercedes.
- The famous BMW signature grills which make their car stand out from the others are called the Kidney grills.
- There are two slang words for the company that may sound similar but have completely different meanings; “Beamer” is the slang word for a BMW motorcycle while “Bimmer” refers to a car.
- The old BMW engines are still found to be very powerful. Back in 1962, a 4 cylinder engine was designed for the BMW M10 that had 75 Horsepower. After a few decades, the same engine design was utilized by another car that won the 1983 Formula One Championship that had the power of over 1400 Horsepower!
- The British automotive brand MINI also comes under BMW which it acquired in 1994.
- Automobiles are marketed under the three brands, BMW, Mini, and Rolls-Royce
- The motorcycles are marketed under the brand BMW Motorrad In 2017.
- BMW is the world’s fourteenth-largest producer of motor vehicles, with a total of 2,279,503 vehicles produced.
- BMW i is a sub-brand of BMW Company. It manufactures plug-in electric vehicles.
- BMW has also produced short films. It has produced a series of 8 short films called The Hire.
Models of BMW
Below are some model lines of BMW cars –
• 1 Series (A four-door sedan variant)
• 2 Series (Active Toured five-seat MPVs)
• 3 Series (four-door sedans)
• 4 Series (two-door coupes and two-door convertibles)
• 5 Series (four-door sedans and station wagons)
• 6 Series (five-door coupes)
• 7 Series (four-door sedans)
• 8 Series (two-door coupes)
Apart from these series, there are other series of cars including the M and X series (SUV).
