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Bayerische Motoren Werke, widely known as BMW, is a German automobile manufacturing company. In addition to the luxury vehicles, sports and electric cars, it also manufactures motorcycles and engines. It is one of the most trusted and admired automakers the world over, especially in South Africa. The BMW logo derives from the ancestral Rapp Motorenwerke company’s circular logo and includes the colours of the Bavarian flag. BMW forms part of the "German Big 3" luxury car manufacturers that includes Mercedes-Benz and Audi. BMW is also the holding/parent company of MINI and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW History The company was founded by Franz Josef Popp, Karl Rapp, and Camillo Castiglioni. Its first name was Rapp Motorenwerke and was in the business of manufacturing aircrafts. After the first World War in 1918, the company was forced to stop making aircraft engines. By 1923 the company then shifted over to motorcycle production. Not long after, they began manufacturing motorcycles on a commercial scale. After the removal of the Versailles Armistice Treaty in 1930 the company was then allowed to manufacture aircrafts again. In 1959 the company then battled a serious financial crisis. Instead of liquidating they then moved over to the vehicle manufacturing sector. They purchased the rights to manufacture the Italian Iso Isetta. BMW’s Isetta was powered by a modified version of BMW's motorcycle engine and helped get the automaker back on its feet. In 1966 they then acquired the Hans Glas Company and briefly badged Glas vehicles as BMW. In 1994, BMW purchased the British Rover Group (which at the time constituted Rover, Land Rover, MG, Austin and Morris). However, Rover was causing a major loss so MG and Rover were sold to the Phoenix Consortium in 2000. And Ford took over Land Rover. On the motorcycle end, BMW purchased the production rights for Husqvarna Motorcycles and continues to operate as a separate enterprise. BMW’s First… BMW's first production car was called the 'Dixi'. It was licensed from the Austin Motor Company and based on the Austin 7 model. The first successful significant aircraft engine produced by the company was the BMW IIIa inline-six liquid-cooled engine. It gained appraisal for its good fuel economy and high-altitude performance. BMW has four operating divisions which include BMW Motorrad, Mini, BMW Motorsport and BMWi. BMW is listed among the top automobile manufacturers and is owned by Stefan Quandt (who holds a 29% share), Susanne Klatten (who owns 21%), and the other 50% of shares is owned by the public.