Handling the road between two and four wheels requires poise and determination. Add in the epitome of luxury car production plus a compact-focused brand, and you suddenly have a wide-reaching enterprise that spans personal transportation entirely. In this special arena, the BMW Group confidently sits, ready to speed forward with unfettered drive.
Each one of the BMW Group brands spread joy across drivers, passengers, and the globe.
2.6M
vehicles sold per year
Whether seated behind the wheel of a high-performance BMW M Series car or atop a BMW adventure bike, you’ll feel the passion crafted into every part. Step into the world of Rolls-Royce for a hand-crafted slice of heaven surpassing all expectations. Or hop into a zippy Mini to spruce up your local errands.
No matter which machine you discover, every BMW group car will burn rubber deep into your soul.
At a glance
| Brands | Volume | % of Group |
| BMW | 2.1 million | 80.3% |
| Mini | 292,900 | 11.2% |
| BMW Motorrad | 215,900 | 8.3% |
| Rolls-Royce | 6,000 | 0.2% |
About BMW Group
The BMW name invokes a special level of excitement, like a growling engine ready to slam on the accelerator. The high-performance BMW luxury cars remain the heart of the company, with BMW motorcycles and Rolls-Royce extravagance holding a strong pace on their own paths.
Together, four brands form the iconic and masterful BMW Group, including BMW, Mini, BMW Motorrad, and Rolls-Royce.
History of BMW Group
Representing a rotating propeller, the BMW Group logo might seem out of place for a large car brand that exclusively produces vehicles and motorcycles. By glancing into the history books, however, you can peel back layers to uncover the car company’s aeronautical roots.
Gustav Otto started an aircraft production company in 1910. This merged into Bayerische Flugzeug-Werke AG (BFW) in 1916, which is considered the official foundation of BMW.
Yet the story about BMW company has another side, one where Karl Rapp and his Rapp Motorenwerke car company became Bayerische Motoren Werke GmbH in 1917, the first use of the BMW Group logo.
The two German car brands met in 1922, when the BMW engine design segment and brand names were transferred to BFW, igniting the fuel that is now over a century’s worth of automotive passion and excellence. The facilities were moved to Munich’s Oberwiesenfeld airfield, where the BMW Group still stands today.
After shifting gears for World War II production efforts, BMW Group classic cars started production once again when peace came. The BMW 501 was the first example, a large luxury car that showcased the brand’s high-quality and thrilling cars.
BMW international grew steadily through the 20th century, reaching beyond borders and into the hearts of enthusiasts everywhere. It eventually took over Land Rover ownership for a brief stint, and in 1998, it absorbed the legendary Rolls-Royce as a BMW Group brand.
During the dawn of electric cars, BMW Group was there to greet it with open arms. The first fully electric BMW project car was unveiled in 1972. Then in 2013, the BMW i3 was released as the first production BMW EV, which has now grown into a full lineup of sedans and SUVs.
BMW may not focus on the most expensive cars nor the fastest cars, but it holds a firm footing as one of the best luxury car brands. Each vehicle is a driver’s dream, ready to take charge of the road and provide a thrilling experience whether you’re on the Nürburgring or a grocery run.
Understanding group synergy
Unlike some of the largest automotive conglomerates, BMW Group brands are mostly individualized and rarely share platforms or components. After all, it’s not like a BMW motorcycle can magically stretch into a sedan.
Yet there are some underlying similarities between Mini, Rolls-Royce, and BMW.
As you would expect, the smallest BMWs share some underpinnings with Mini cars. The Mini Countryman and BMW X1 don’t look very similar on the exterior, but dig deep enough and you’ll discover the same platform.
And even though Rolls-Royce BMW Group is in another class of bespoke luxury, select models do share a platform across the brands. While the Rolls-Royce Cullinan and Phantom remain wholly built with exclusive Rolls components, the smaller Ghost and Wraith models share a platform with the high-end BMW 7 Series.
No matter the level of production swapping, the luxury brand has made a consistent effort to lean on one area of expertise to create another.
Twice throughout its history, BMW Group started manufacturing fast motorcycles, then eventually added car production into the mix. The precision engineering, design experience, and production prowess of the motorcycle predecessor were infused into each BMW car.
By pushing forward through barriers of innovation, BMW Group has catapulted the industry forward with lightweight aluminum components, enhanced suspension, and fully variable valve-train control.
More recently, the automotive titan has unleashed laser lighting, advanced predictive driving, and some of the most advanced electric vehicles and electric motorcycles ever made.
BMW Group is currently revving up to welcome the next generation of mobility. One that’s merging the worlds of technology and transportation like never before.
