5 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT BMW
I’m sure we are all familiar with the BMW by now, if you are a BMW fan boy or fan girl here’s something to quench your thirst.
Since BMW has been around for a century now, and still astounds us with its impressive array of vehicles which often shake the automotive industry.
1. ACRONYM OF BMW
Originally named “Bayerische Flugzeugwerke” it was referred to as BFW. The name meant Bavarian plane manufacturing. In 1917, the company changed the name to “Bayerische Motoren Werke,” (BMW) which means Bavarian Motor Works in English. I wouldn’t be surprised if we all at a point misinterpreted the meaning.
2. THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES
Did you know that BMW used to manufacture warplanes back then? An interesting start for the company hence its logo looking like a plane’s propellers – after the treaty of Versailles which stipulated the halt of the manufacture of warplanes or warplane engines; BMW then switched to manufacturing automobiles. The company started manufacturing motorcycles in 1928, then initiated automobile manufacturing and reached the peak of success in the industry.
3. THE FIRST MANUFACTURER OF ELECTRIC CARS
Did you know BMW was the then first manufacturer of electric cars? I’m sure we all didn’t know this one; say most people do not know about BMW. In 1972 BMW manufactured its first electric vehicle named – the BMW 1602e. This was initially a prototype in 1969 and was revealed to the public at the 1972 Olympics in Munich. The car featured 12 lead-acid batteries connected to an undercarriage pallet. The manual gearbox was replaced by Bosch electric engine and an inner fan was installed to keep the entire setting cool.
However, BMW 1602e never made it to the market for sale, due to low-performance standards as compared to other BMW vehicles. The charge time was also only 20 minutes. Although this model was a failure, it laid the groundwork for the company to manufacture future electric cars.
4. BMW PRODUCED ROLLS ROYCE
Did you know BMW produced Rolls Royce? Here’s a little history for you BMW lovers. In 1998, BMW obtained Rolls-Royce brand and naming rights from Rolls-Royce plc. The company then opened a Rolls-Royce automobile manufacturing plant in England in the year 2003. The first Rolls-Royce car manufactured in this plant was the Phantom.
5. DESIGNING AEROPLANE AND TRAIN INTERIORS
Did you know BMW designs airplane and train interiors? BMW’s industrial design studio, BMW Designworks is responsible for this genre and you can see their work in Singapore Airlines models, Ava Air, and Starlux.
Moreover, BMW has been asked by the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system in San Francisco to replace their old train interiors. Their designs will be revealed in the year 2022 in the 775 new trains that Bombardier Transportation is building.
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