BMW is the parent company of the MINI and Rolls-Royce car brands. BMW is known for its performance and luxury vehicles, and is a global leader in premium car sales. Bavarian Motor Works or Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) was established in Munich, Germany. Initially Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFw) manufactured aero engines. The company excelled in manufacturing military aircraft engines during World War 1.
Its reputation increased for reliability and excellence. In 1916 restructuring the company was done with Rapp Motorenweke and became Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW). After the World War 1 BMW stopped to produce aircraft engine according to Versailles Armistice Treaty. It shifted to motorcycle production in 1923, and started manufacturing automobiles in 1928 after the acquisition of the Eisenach vehicle factory.
BMW Logo History
BMW Logo is one of the famous distinctive logo designs in the world which enacts a simple, smart and a sporty design. The BMW logo was created and submitted for registration on the rolls of the Imperial Patent Office, and registered there with no. 221388 on 10 Dec 1917. Though the logo was created and registered in 1917 it appeared only in 1929 on the Dixi. It featured the circular design of the Rapp logo but with the fonts BMW at the top of the outer ring. The colors were blue and white as that of the Bavarian Free State colors but in the reverse order as it is illegal to use national symbols for commercial trademarks.
The BMW logo was registered for land, air and seagoing vehicles, automobiles, bicycles, accessories for automobiles and bicycles, vehicle components, stationary engines for solid, liquid and gaseous fuels and their components and accessories The logo actually evolved from the similar circular Rapp Motoren Werke company logo, a company from which BMW expanded. The BMW logo popularly known as âroundelâ consists of a thick black ring encircled by a silver lining.
On the top half of the black ring the letters âBMWâ are inscribed. The gap within the rings has four quadrants with alternating white and blue color. Though there were minor changes in the BMW logo it maintained its original look throughout the timeframe. By 1999, to modernize the logo, the roundel was depicted in 3 â D. This gives the Roundel a more sophisticated, bolder and virile look.
BMW Controversy
There are two schools of thoughts regarding the meaning of the logo. One version is that it represents the movement of an aircraft propeller, to symbolize the white blades cutting through the blue sky. This thought is strengthened from the fact that the Bavarian Luftwaffe flew planes painted in blue and white during World War 1. It reflects the origins of BMW as a manufacturer of military aircraft engines during World War 1.
The other thought relates the BMW logo to the blue and white colors of the flag of Bavaria as the place where the products are manufactured. The simple, yet popular design is recognized all over among all age groups and also maintains the quality and reputation of the company.
Nevertheless the BMW logo has become one of the worldâs popular logos to catch all the praise the brand is worth of. The BMW Roundel is now ranked in the top ten of the worldâs most recognized logos.
