There are such a lot of automotive manufacturers from the world over. It may be exhausting to decide on which automotive you need. Among the finest manufacturers out there’s BMW. Likelihood is that you simply heard of this automotive model, the truth is, you might have even pushed or owned a BMW. This automotive firm has a protracted and attention-grabbing historical past to it. This text may even clarify who at present owns BMW. With all of that being mentioned, let’s get began!
Founding of BMW
BMW had its founding again in 1910 by Gustav Otto in Bavaria, Germany. It was initially often called Otto Flugmaschinenfabrik. Nevertheless, it turned into Bayerische Flugzeugwerke AG in March 1916. The corporate would later rename once more in 1922, calling it, Bayerische Motoren Have been or BMW.
The identify really was in use again in 1913 by Karl Rapp. The identify and the power to make engines had been transferred over to BMW in 1922. The very first product BMW made was a straight-six plane engine often called the BMW Illa.
After WWI
BMW handle to remain in enterprise after WWI the place they made motorbike engines, objects for households, and extra. Their first motorbike, the BMW R 32 was launched in 1923. It wouldn’t be till 5 years later that BMW began manufacturing vehicles. Their first automotive known as the BMW 3/15 was a Dixi. BMW would additionally purchase a number of different automotive producers permitting them to broaden its enterprise and into new merchandise reminiscent of sports activities vehicles and luxurious vehicles.
WWII
We can not get to who owns BMW with out taking a look at their participation in WWII. BMW was tasked with constructing plane engines, vehicles, and many others. for Nazi Germany and its warfare machine. They’d concentrate on plane engines for Germany’s air forces and used over 40,000 prisoners from focus camps.
Allied Forces bombed the factories and banned them from creating autos after the warfare. BMW managed to outlive by making bicycles and pots and pans. In 1948, three years after the warfare, they acquired again into the motorbike business and vehicles in 1952. Sluggish gross sales had BMW on the sting of being purchased out within the 50s, however handle to outlive.
Trendy Age
BMW survived because of an funding by the Quandt brothers, whose father was an industrialist for the Nazis, serving to them construct weapons and batteries with the usage of slave labor. BMW and the Quandt’s father had no reference to one another through the battle, it was that blood cash that allowed the Quandt brothers to purchase BMW.
As time went on, BMW would make extra vehicles all through the years. This helped them turn into a profitable and impartial automotive producer. They’d be bought in 1994 by the Rover Group. Nevertheless, this was not profitable and BMW misplaced some huge cash. 4 years later, BMW had the rights to Rolls Royce.
By January 2021, it was revealed by BMW that their earnings fell over 8% due to the coronavirus pandemic. Even this yr, BMW and Toyota are working collectively to create hydrogen gasoline cell autos by 2025.
Founders of BMW
There are three people who find themselves probably the most chargeable for the founding of BMW. They’re:
- Camillo Castiglioni: An Italian-Austrian Jewish financier and was the wealthiest man in all of Central Europe throughout World Conflict I.
- Franz Josef Popp: An Austrian man who is called the prime pressure in creating the corporate. He was additionally the Common Director till 1942.
- Karl Rapp: A German founder who not directly based BMW together with his personal automotive firm known as Rapp Motorenwerke GmbH.
In the present day, the present CEO of BMW, who has been there since August 2019 is German supervisor Oliver Zipse.
Conclusion
So, who owns BMW? Nicely, as you possibly can see from the article, BMW has had a protracted and sophisticated historical past. Particularly with its ties to Nazi Germany throughout WWII. In March 2016, it was the a hundredth anniversary of BMW. To mark the event, BMW apologized for its previous and the “profound remorse” in offering provides to the Nazis and the usage of slave labor.
The corporate states that it was the primary industrial company to talk on this chapter in its historical past again in 1983. In 1999, BMW was a founding member of the “Remembrance, Accountability and Future” basis to compensate former laborers.
Again in 2011, there was additionally renewed curiosity within the Quandt Household and their ties to the Nazis. They’re nonetheless a shareholder because of the Quandt brothers after World Conflict II.
However, it’s a good factor that this firm sought forgiveness for its previous crimes, even the Quandt Household preserve extra personal about their previous.
Regardless of a muddy previous, BMW was lucky sufficient to make a comeback and is now often called a dependable automotive model.