Bayerische Motoren Werke, popularly known as BMW, is a German automobile manufacturing company. It was founded by Franz Josef Popp in 1916. BMW is headquartered in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. With a number of employees of 105,876, in 2012, BMW is one of the most admired and trusted automobile manufacturers, apart from Audi and Mercedes-Benz.
BMW is the parent company of the highly revered royal-class automaker Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Today, BMW manufactures and produces cars and motorcycles, the latter under the BMW Motorrad brand. The company forms the trio of luxury car manufacturers popularly called “the Big 3 Germans”, the other two being Audi and Mercedes-Benz. History and founders of BMW was founded by Franz Josef Popp, Karl Rapp and Camillo Castiglioni. Initially, it was Rapp Motorenwerke, an aircraft manufacturing company.
In 1918, however, after World War I, the company’s manufacturing unit was forced to stop manufacturing aircraft engines and switched to motorcycle production in 1923. Shortly thereafter, the brand began producing and manufacture motorcycles on a commercial scale. A few years later, in 1930, the aircraft manufacturing unit was given the green light following the removal of the treaty.
Is it just the cars they make or the company as a whole? Are you attracted to the design, the tradition, the quality, the reliability or the philosophy of the brand? It can be anything from the smell of the interior to the position of the driver to the colors offered and even the cup holders.
If you ask 10 different people what makes the BMW brand unique, you’re sure to get 10 different answers. For some it’s the driving “feel” that BMW builds into its cars, while for others it’s the numbers and figures, such as horsepower, 0-60 speed, torque or miles per gallon, that could seal the deal for them. For some, BMW is a mere status symbol, while for others it is the belief in the mantra “The Ultimate Driving Machine” and the philosophy of high-revving engines.
With this in mind, some are attracted to the BMW brand not only because it produces great cars, but also because of its way of doing things. Some appreciate the fact that BMW is constantly trying to push the envelope with the latest and greatest that the mechanical and technological field has to offer.
For example, the idea that a company should stick to tradition and ignore any potential opportunities for improvement does not really fit with BMW. The switch from naturally aspirated to turbocharged engines and electrically assisted steering are just a few examples.
The Magic is in the Details, BMW Design, Dallas European Auto, Plano, TX
Ultimately, what makes the BMW brand unique and distinguishes itself from the competition is the many little things together. BMW not only takes into account the attention paid when producing an exceptional service or product, but also thinks about how the sales staff and support team treat their customers and how the receptionist answers the phone in a BMW dealership, either in Munich, Germany, or in Miami, Florida. The message is the same: “we are the best”.
The subtlety of BMW makes its brand bright and unique. Have you ever noticed the “thundering” sound when the door of a BMW closes? When you’re in the BMW showroom and step into, say, a 5 Series model, the satisfyingly clean sound of the door ‘slamming’ as it closes is synonymous with quality.
There’s no rattling, no slamming sound, just that compact, confidence-inspiring sound. It is the sound of outside noise and discomfort that seals in as you enter a safe and comfortable place. Behind the wheel there are also carefully crafted details: the smell, the way the seat feels, the feel of the hands on the wheel, the way the buttons on the dashboard have a certain resistance, etc.
BMW is masterful with the smallest details, which lead to the overall beauty of the brand as a whole. This, among other things, makes BMW unique and will continue to be so in the future.