BMW's first motorcycle was built in 1917: The company, then called Rapp Motorenwerke, produced a primitive motorcycle with a 486cc engine.
BMW's iconic logo is based on the country's coat of arms: The roundel with the black and white colors represents Bavaria, the region where BMW originated.
The first car built by BMW was in 1928: The Dixie, a small sedan with a 1.5L engine, was produced for just one year before being replaced by more modern designs.
BMW developed the world's first turbocharged production car engine in 1972: The 2002 Turbo featured an inline-4 cylinder engine producing 170 horsepower and 160 lb-ft of torque.
The original 3 Series was called the 'E21' and had a diesel option: Introduced in 1975, the E21 3 Series was the first BMW to feature a turbocharged diesel engine.
BMW produced over 1 million motorcycles between 1923 and 1998: The company's motorcycle production outpaced its car production during this period.
The first M3 was almost cancelled due to emissions concerns: In the late 1980s, BMW was developing a high-performance version of the E30 3 Series when it encountered issues with meeting emission regulations.
BMW created the world's first all-wheel-drive production car in 1971: The 1602 Turbo featured an all-wheel-drive system that sent power to all four wheels via a viscous coupling.
The original 5 Series was called the 'E12' and had a unique pop-up headlamp design: Introduced in 1972, the E12 5 Series featured a distinctive pop-up headlight that became a hallmark of BMW's styling during this era.
BMW produced a limited edition, V12-powered version of the Z3 in 1999: The Z3 M Coupe was created to celebrate the introduction of the V12 engine in the 7 Series and featured a unique, carbon fiber-reinforced plastic roof.
The first BMW X5 was developed from the E39 5 Series platform: Introduced in 1999, the original X5 SUV shared its platform with the E39 5 Series but featured a more rugged, off-road-inspired design.
BMW's iconic 'M Power' badge has been around since the early 1970s: First appearing on the 2002 Turbo, the M Power logo has become synonymous with high-performance BMWs.
The original Mini Cooper was owned by BMW from 1994 to 2013: During this period, BMW invested heavily in redeveloping the Mini brand and producing new models.
BMW developed a concept car for a future electric sports car called the 'Vision Efficient Dynamics' in 2009: The Vision E-D revealed BMW's plans for an all-electric sports car that would eventually become the i8.
The first-generation i3 was originally designed as a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle: Introduced in 1991, the prototype i3 featured a hydrogen fuel cell system but ultimately transitioned to battery electric power.
BMW produces more motorcycles than Rolls-Royce produces cars: Despite being a car manufacturer, BMW's motorcycle division outsells Rolls-Royce's car production by a significant margin.
The original M3 was so successful that it became the foundation for the E46 3 Series' 'Sport Package': The M3's popularity led to BMW incorporating some of its performance features into the standard 3 Series lineup.
BMW developed an early hybrid system in the late 1990s: The eDrive system, first tested on a BMW 750iL, featured a diesel engine and a compact electric motor that generated up to 70 horsepower.
The original X1 was based on the E87 1 Series platform: Introduced in 2009, the X1 SUV shared its platform with the E87 1 Series but featured a more practical, family-oriented design.
BMW created an 'M Performance' sub-brand for non-M cars with sporty features: First appearing on the M135i and M235i models, the M Performance badge represents BMW's attempt to bridge the gap between standard and high-performance models.
The 7 Series has been available in left-hand drive configuration since its introduction in 1977: Despite being produced primarily for right-hand traffic markets, BMW offers a select number of LHD versions of the 7 Series each year.
BMW's i5 concept featured an advanced hydrogen fuel cell system in 2011: The i5 was designed to demonstrate the feasibility of hydrogen fuel cells as a zero-emission power source.
The original X3 was based on the E46 3 Series platform: Introduced in 2003, the X3 SUV shared its platform with the E46 3 Series but featured a more rugged, off-road-inspired design.
BMW produces over 500 different engine variants annually: The company's modular engine design allows for a wide range of applications across various model lines.
The original 1 Series was called the 'E87' and had a unique rear hatch design: Introduced in 2004, the E87 1 Series featured a distinctive pop-up rear window that became a hallmark of its styling.