what bmw stands for

BMW stands for Bayerische Motoren Werke GmbH, which roughly translates to the Bavarian Engine Works Company. The name harks back to the company’s origin in the German state of Bavaria, where it was founded in 1916 as Rapp-Motorenwerke GmbH, which produced aircraft engines during World War I. After the war, the company shifted its focus to producing motorcycles and then automobiles. Today, BMW is a leading manufacturer of luxury vehicles and motorcycles.