History of BMW, a historical car

Today, we probably know BMW as a luxury car brand from Europe that is popular among wealthy people around the world. It is a luxury car brand from Germany with many followers. We all know many BMW models. Today, we will look at the history of this car brand, my friends. What is the history of this German car brand? What did it have to face before it reached this point? And believe it or not, BMW did not start its business with cars. It also went through World War II. When did Thailand start importing the BMW brand? Let's see.

History of BMW and the first founding in the world

BMW (abbreviated from German: Bayerische Motoren Werke; English: Bavarian Motor Works) is a German automobile and motorcycle manufacturing company located in Munich. It was founded in 1916. When it was first established, it was an aircraft engine manufacturing company for World War I. The company was the 12th largest automobile manufacturer in the world, responsible for the BMW, Mini, and Rolls-Royce brands. Including the BMW Motorrad motorcycle brand, the company is headquartered in Munich, Bavaria, and has production bases in Germany, Brazil, China, India, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The name BMW originated from a company called Rapp Motorenwerke, an aircraft engine manufacturer owned by Karl Rapp in Munich. In 1917, Rapp Motorenwerke changed its name to

“Bayerische Motoren Werke”, which is the full name of BMW, with a symbol designed from the image of a rotating aircraft turbine, combined with the colors of the blue and white, which are the colors of the Bavarian state where the company is located. After that, BMW made its name from aircraft engines.

The aircraft engine manufacturing business seemed to be going well, but when World War I ended and Germany lost, the production of aircraft engines became illegal in Germany as a result of the Treaty of Versailles.

BMW, which had always produced aircraft engines, had to turn to producing farm equipment and train brakes in order to survive. But during that time, Max Friz, BMW's chief designer, laid out a design plan. Motorcycles went with it. A major change occurred in 1922 when Camillo Castiglioni, then a major shareholder of Bayerische Flugzeugwerke or BFW, acquired BMW's aircraft engine business. BFW moved all of BMW's assets, including workers and production equipment, to its own production center and changed its name from BFW to BMW.

The production center that was considered the new home of BMW was located in Munich and still exists today.

Because now, that location is the headquarters of the BMW Group. In 1923, BMW's first motorcycle, the R 32, was launched at the Berlin Motor Show. The layout of the R 32 engine is still considered the prototype for new BMW motorcycles.

BMW's first steps in the automotive industry began in 1928 after it acquired the business. Fahrzeugfabrik Eisenach of Heinrich Ehrhardt (the pioneering German car manufacturer after Daimler and Benz), which owned Dixi cars or Austin Seven cars that bought the production license from the British Austin Motor Company. The BMW 3/15 PS was the first car to use the BMW name, which was launched the following year and immediately became a sensation because it was able to win the Alpine Rally since the first time it entered. After that, in 1933, the BMW 303 was the first car to come with the kidney grille that has become the identity of all BMW cars today.

An event that seemed like deja vu happened. While cars and motorcycles were going well, World War II happened. BMW went to produce aircraft engines for the air force. And Germany lost again. The factories and equipment were almost all destroyed. And BMW had to go back to producing household goods. Before returning to making motorcycles again in 1948 and cars in 1951. After World War II, BMW came back to sell cars that were full of performance. Which was considered a car with the most advanced technology at that time.

But it seems that The peak of engineering was at the same time as the lowest point of BMW. After the war, people were only interested in their own livelihoods and could not afford to buy a big car with advanced engineering and expensive prices. As a result, BMW cars did not sell well. The motorcycle market also began to decline. Finally, the company had serious financial problems, to the point that the company's board accepted the offer to merge with Daimler-Benz. However, this deal did not happen because after being opposed by both workers and minority shareholders, Herbert Quandt, one of the company's shareholders, decided to find money to buy the shares that were going to be sold to Daimler-Benz for himself. This made BMW still a competitor to Benz. Do you know that 59 years later, the Quandt family is still the major shareholder in the BMW Group? After Herbert Quandt became a shareholder, everything in BMW got better. After learning the lesson once, BMW adjusted the size of the cars that were made to be smaller, which could meet the needs of the general public more. By releasing the 1500 model, it sold well again. BMW's business improved steadily through the acquisition and sale of other companies many times. Currently, the BMW Group is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. It is valued at €56,373 million, or about 2,184,163 million baht, with a total of 124,729 employees. In addition to BMW's own cars and motorcycles, it also owns the MINI and Rolls-Royce brands.

The BMW logo was invented in 1917. It consists of two colors: blue and white, following the flag of Bavaria. Bavaria is the largest state in Germany, with Munich as the capital. This logo has been changed many times, but it still has the same distinctive blue and white colors. At that time, the company continued to produce parts for aircraft for many years.

Until 1923, they started to enter the motorcycle market, which was a great and challenging first step for them. Before that, they only produced engines, but in 1923, they had to build vehicles. In a short time, they became a major brand in the automotive industry and opened their first distribution center in the United States in 1994. Their brand is still famous and loved by wealthy people around the world to this day.

History of BMW in Thailand

BMW cars were first sold in Thailand in 1961 by Asia Motor Bangkok Co., Ltd. under the management of Mr. Atthaphon and Mr. Atthapong Leenutaphong. They were imported from a representative in Singapore, which was very successful. With the highest sales volume in all regions

In 1963, Beyerrich Motoren Wecker AG (BMW) of the Federal Republic of Germany appointed him as the sole official importer and distributor of BMW cars in Thailand and changed the name of the company to "Yontrakit Co., Ltd."

The first model sold at that time was the BMW 700, followed by the BMW 2002, which had high sales volume from sales to the police department to be used as patrol cars for the Metropolitan Police.

In 1981-1987, the big model BMW 520 (E28 model) was released, with a 1,998 cc inline 6-cylinder gasoline engine, fueled by a dual carburetor system.

BMW 3 Series

In 1978-1983, the popular models were the 318 and 320 (E21 / CBU model), which were popularly known as the "shark-face model", which was a model in the motorsport circles around the world. Fuel injection with single carburetor system

In 1984-1986, the new model 316, 318, 320 (E30 / CBU model) was imported and distributed. It uses a 4-cylinder gasoline engine and is fueled with a carburetor, both with a 4-speed manual transmission and a 3-speed automatic transmission with an overdrive system. This model is still popular in the motorsport industry around the world.

In 1987-1990, the domestically assembled model was released with a new engine system, using Bosch's electric injection fuel injection system. The manual transmission is 5 gears, while the ZF automatic transmission is 4 gears with an overdrive system.

In 1991, the 318i and 325i (E36 / CKD model) were launched, the "parrot model" that everyone calls it. This model mainly uses the German Parrot brand paint, followed by the 320i, 320i cabiolet and 323i models. This model can be considered to have the highest sales volume in the company's history. In this model, the car model was changed to 2 models until the 323i model, which used the Steptronic transmission system for the first time and was the last model under the management of Yontrakit Co., Ltd.

BMW 5 Series

1988-1996, the 520i, 525i (E34 model) were sold, using a 6-cylinder inline engine, fueled by Bosch's electric injection system, with both a 5-speed manual transmission and an automatic 4-speed overdrive with Manual / Sport adjustment mode. This model has both a 4-door sedan and a 5-door station wagon. The E34 model has undergone several exterior and interior changes from the first imported models. By assembling domestically instead in late 1992 under the new look called "Big Nose" in the 525i model still uses a 6-cylinder inline engine that has developed the Single Vanos system (engine code M-50TU) to replace the previous engine, ZF 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive system and Manual / Sport adjustment mode. It also developed a new engine to use the Double Vanos system in the last one in 1995. In every model of this series, there will always be additional interior and exterior equipment changes. In 1994-95, the 520i model was imported from Malaysia to compete with the domestic car market that emphasizes price. This model has a unique identity: the front console, the interior door panels will be blue, and the imported car color will have Silver Bronze, Blue Black and Gray Black

In 1997, the 523i (E39 model) was launched with a 6-cylinder inline petrol engine, 4-speed overdrive automatic transmission with Steptronic system as the last model. The sales volume did not meet the target. It was also the last model under the management of Yontrakit Co., Ltd.

BMW 7 Series

In 1988, the first 730i model was imported to focus on sales to wealthy customers, high-level executives and business owners who emphasize luxury, comfort and high safety while traveling. It uses a 6-cylinder inline petrol engine, 4-speed overdrive automatic transmission. Genuine leather seats with electric adjustment for the front only

In 1994, the 730i and 740i models were imported and distributed. They use a 6-cylinder inline gasoline engine, Double Vanos system, 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive system and Manual / Sport adjustment mode, Cruise Control system, genuine leather seats with electric adjustment for both the front and rear.

How is it? With the history of BMW, which has gone through a lot to achieve success until today. It is definitely not an easy success. And for friends who want to rent a BMW car to experience the success of this brand, we have the BMW X1 sDrive18d xLin.e, BMW 320d Sport and BMW 520d M Sport for friends to rent and drive together. Prices start at only 7,490 baht/day. Fill up the gas tank and drive all over Thailand. Easy to apply for service, no credit card required.