What’s the story behind the BMW logo?
The logo’s inner circle represented the Bavarian flag’s colors – cyan and white – but displayed them in inverse order. It wasn’t a creative license but rather a trick to bypass local trademark laws forbidding the use of state symbols and references on commercial logos. Yet, this wasn’t the BMW we all know today. For a while, many people believed the white and blue shapes in the BMW logo were intended to represent a spinning propeller, as BMW has a history in the aircraft engineering sector. However, the reality is the blue and white colors actually symbolize the country of origin for the brand – Bavaria.BMW has been using the BMW logo, including variations on segments in concentric circles, since 1973. According to Jochen Neerpasch, the design for this initial BMW motorsport emblem originated from the Swiss graphic design agency Müller.The first emblem was circular, showcasing offset semicircles in blue, purple, and red, with the central BMW logo of its parent company. This logo made its debut on the BMW 3. CSL in 1973.Iconic Logo: The BMW logo, often referred to as the roundel, consists of a black ring intersecting with four quadrants of blue and white. It represents the company’s origins in aviation, with the blue and white symbolizing a spinning propeller against a clear blue sky.The outer ring of the symbol was now bounded by two gold lines and bore the letters BMW. The company’s home state of Bavaria was also to be represented on the company logo. The quarters of the inner circle on the BMW badge display the state colors of the State of Bavaria – white and blue.
What does the symbol for BMW mean?
The first key to the meaning of the BMW logo are its colors: white and blue are the colors of the State of Bavaria in Germany, home of BMW. A 1929 BMW ad depicts the BMW emblem, complete with the four colored quadrants, in a spinning airplane propeller. That the “M” of BMW M originally stood for “motorsport” is well known among car aficionados. But where did BMW’s sporty offshoot get its colors? Bavarian blue may be obvious because of the color of the BMW logo design (➜ Read more:The history of the BMW logo), but where do the red and violet come from?What Does the BMW M Series Mean? When you shop our BMW M Series inventory, you may be wondering what the BMW M Series is and what it means. The “M” in the BMW M Series stands for “Motorsport”, and the M Series was originally created to facilitate BMW’s racing program.
Is the BMW logo the Bavarian flag?
Although many think the BMW logo shows a propeller, it actually represents the Bavarian flag. The blue and white design pays homage to the Bavarian flag. Throughout its history, the logo has undergone minimal updates. One recent update maintained the tribute to the Bavarian flag but altered the outer circle to a clear hue from its previous black.The logo’s inner circle represented the Bavarian flag’s colors – cyan and white – but displayed them in inverse order. It wasn’t a creative license but rather a trick to bypass local trademark laws forbidding the use of state symbols and references on commercial logos. Yet, this wasn’t the BMW we all know today.
What did BMW originally stand for?
The acronym BMW stands for Bayerische Motoren Werke GmbH, which roughly translates to the Bavarian Engine Works Company. The name harks back to the company’s origin in the German state of Bavaria. It also indicates BMW’s original product range: engines for various applications. BMW is the acronym everyone uses to describe the world-renowned car brand. The full name, Bayerische Motoren Werke – or Bavarian Motor Works – is a bit of a mouthful after all (➜ Read more: The BMW name and its history).The BMW Group is the world’s leading provider of premium cars and motorcycles and the home of the BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad brands.Which Automaker Owns BMW? BMW is the namesake brand of the BMW Group, a German automaker also behind the Mini and Rolls-Royce. BMW Group relaunched Mini in 2001 and began Rolls-Royce production in early 2003.BMW is short for Bayerische Motoren Werke, and if you’ve got an eye for languages, you might be able to recognize this name as German! Yes, BMW is and always has been based in Bavaria, a state in southeastern Germany.If you’ve ever wondered about who owns BMW, you should be glad to learn that the BMW brand is the property of the BMW Group, also known as BMW AG. This means that the people who own BMW also own other luxury brands such as MINI and Rolls-Royce!
What is the fun fact about the BMW logo?
The Colors Used in the Logo Represent Bavaria Many people mistakenly believe that the logo is supposed to represent a spinning propeller, but that is not the case. The symbol was designed and the colors were chosen to represent the colors of Bavaria which is where the main headquarters of BMW is located. It stands for “Bayerische Motoren Werke” in German, or “Bavarian Motor Works” in English. There is a rich history behind that name so let’s take a closer look at the BMW meaning today with our team at BMW of West St Louis!The full name, Bayerische Motoren Werke – or Bavarian Motor Works – is a bit of a mouthful after all (➜ Read more: The BMW name and its history). And, as the above would indicate, it is German – Bavaria is a state in the south of Germany – the initials just happen to be the same in English.
Why does BMW have three colors?
But why exactly these colours, red, purple and blue? Marc Thiesbürger, automotive and racing historian at BMW Group Classic, says: Blue stands for BMW, the red was probably inspired by the Texaco company and violet was chosen pragmatically as a mixed colour of blue and red. Black is considered the most popular color for these luxury vehicles, including the lineup of BMW SUVs. Red and Blue are gaining in popularity, especially in North America, with White dominating the market in Asia and Africa, and Grey shining in the European market.Some of the rarest BMW colors include: BMW Individual Special Colors: Java Green: A striking, bright green offered through the BMW Individual program. Frozen Shades: Such as Frozen Red or Frozen Purple, which are matte finishes that are challenging to maintain and often limited to special editions.