Who designed the BMW logo?
It first appeared on the legendary BMW 3. CSL in 1973. According to Jochen Neerpasch, then Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW M GmbH and Head of Racing, the design of this first emblem came from the Swiss graphics agency Müller. 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.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.
Is the BMW logo the Bavarian flag?
Bavaria is located in the southeastern part of Germany, near Austria and the Czech Republic. The Blue and White circular BMW logo dates all the way back to 1917, too! It’s based on the Bavarian flag, which features blue and white checkers in a diamond pattern. BMW is headquartered in Munich, Germany, and owned by the parent company BMW Group, which also owns the luxury brands Mini and Rolls-Royce.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.Yes, since the acquisition by BMW, Rolls-Royce has used engines developed and manufactured in Germany. The BMW V12 engines, in particular, are engineered at BMW’s facilities and then sent to the Rolls-Royce production plant in Goodwood, England, where they are integrated into the vehicles.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.
What does the spinning BMW logo mean?
Rapp Motor became Bayerische Motoren Werke GmbH in 1917, but it continued to make aircraft motors for some time. In the late 1920s, BMW produced a clever advertising campaign that placed the brand logo over the spinning propellers of aircraft to promote the association. When the Otto company went bankrupt in 1916, it became Bayerische Flugzeugwerke AG (BFW). Shortly afterwards, Rapp also changed its company name: In 1917, the company became known as Bayerische Motoren Werke GmbH. BMW’s origin in the Rapp company can also be seen on the logo.
Who owns 50% of BMW?
While half of the company is owned by the public, the other half is owned by the Quandt family, who have been long-time BMW shareholders. Here is the breakdown of ownership: 29% = Stefan Quandt: A German industrialist and engineer. Susanne Klatten: Successful investor and sister to Stefan Quandt. In German, the company’s full name is Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft, and the primary shareholders are as follows: The Quandt Family: Stefan Quandt owns 29% of BMW AG, while Susanne Klatten (Quandt’s sister), owns another 21%.In 2018, Quandt became BMW’s largest single shareholder when his direct ownership increased with shares inherited from his mother, giving him a so-called “blocking stake” of 25.