BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke AG) is a German multinational automaker founded in 1916. The company started as an aircraft engine manufacturer and was initially known as Rapp Motorenwerke. In 1917, it was renamed BMW and started producing motorcycle engines.

In the 1920s, BMW introduced its first car, the Dixi, which was a licensed version of the Austin 7. In the 1930s, the company introduced a number of new models, including the BMW 3/20, a small, affordable car, and the BMW 328, a sports car that became popular in motorsports.

During World War II, BMW focused on the production of military vehicles and aircraft engines, and it did not return to the production of passenger cars until after the war. In the 1950s, the company introduced a number of new models, including the BMW 501, a mid-sized luxury car, and the BMW 502, a luxury car that featured the company’s first V8 engine.

In the 1960s and 1970s, BMW continued to expand its range and introduced a number of new models, including the BMW 1600, a compact car, and the BMW 5 Series, a mid-sized luxury car that has become one of the company’s most popular and enduring models.

Today, BMW is known for its lineup of luxury vehicles, including sedans, SUVs, and sports cars, and it has a reputation for producing high-performance, technologically advanced vehicles. The company is also a leader in the development of electric and hybrid vehicles.