About BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke or Bavarian Motor Company (BMW) is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company which was established in 1916 in Munich, Germany. The BMW Company is one of the most famous automobile companies in the world which has reached its altitudes and gained countless accomplishments. Its foundation is in motorcycles, aircraft engines and cars. Now it holds and produces the Mini brand, and is closely associated with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
Symbol of prestige
In July 1917 Franz Josef Popp registered the name Bayerische Motoren Werke, thus distancing the new company from Rapp Motoren Werke. The name was registered but as yet there was no new logo. It was on 5 October 1917 that the BMW trademark was registered with the Imperial Trade Mark Roll under No. 221388. It featured the circular design of the old
Rapp logo but with the letters BMW at the top of the outer ring. For BMW, it was ‘a happy coincidence’ that the BMW logo symbolized the Bavarian flag colors and represented the company’s origin. When the BMW logo was first created, it was prohibited by the Trademark Act to feature ‘national coats of arms or other symbols of national sovereignty’ in a trademark. This led the BMW marketers to reverse positioning of white and blue quadrants.
Some believe because the company started off by manufacturing aircraft engines the logo has roots tied to airplane propeller spiraling by the blue sky. This theory also claims ‘sky blue and white quartered’ signifies the white propeller blade in place of the blue sky, which represents the company as the maker of militia airplanes during World War I. The idea of the spinning propellers was given greater credence due to a series of advertisements during the Great Depression.
The 1929 Dixi was the first vehicle to carry the famous BMW logo. The BMW logo has been altered very rarely and minutely and has maintained its original look throughout the company’s history. Here are some of the logos that have been used since 1917.
The basic structure of the Roundel has remained the same over 90 years but there have been subtle changes. The BMW logo has become one of the world’s most recognized symbols that exemplifies class, personality and sophistication.
