Bmw Company Analysis

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Overview, History, and Structure of BMW Motor Corporation BMW stands for Bavarian Motor Works (Bayerische Motoren Werke AG) and it is a well renowned German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company that was founded in 1916. BMW is the parent company of other well-known vehicle brands such as the MINI and Rolls Royce. The motorcycle brands that are also part of BMW are BMW Motorrad and Husqyarna. (BMW, Wikipedia 2010) Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) was originally founded in March 7, 1916 under the name of Bayerische Flugzeug Work (BFW). Originally, the company engineered and fabricated aircraft engines. BFW was the main provider for the German air force during World War I, but at the end of World War I, BFW was forced to stop engine production by the Versailles Armistice treaty. Therefore from this point on, BFW became BMW and began the production of motorcycles in 1923 and automobiles in 1928-1929. (BMW Group, 2010) BMW’s logo which consists of blue and white pies in a circle symbolizes the companies past of being an airplane engine manufacturer. The blue signifies the sky where as the white represents a plane’s propeller. The company proliferated until 1959. At this time, the automotive division of BMW faced financial difficulties. The company held a meeting with its shareholders to determine whether to go into liquidation or to find another solution to the business. The company decided to purchase the rights to manufacture the Italian Iso Isetta in order to help them keep the company afloat. The investment was a moderate success and it prevented the company from under going liquidation. The Iso Isetta was slightly modified by using a slightly altered BMW motorcycle engine. (History of BMW, Wikipedia 2010) The success of BMW in 1959 brought in more investors; however, the owner of forty-six percent of the company since then is the Quandt
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