13-03-2017, 11:40 AM
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (German for Bavarian Motor Works), commonly known under BMW (German pronunciation: [beːʔɛmveː] (listen)), is a German luxury motorcycle vehicle and motor manufacturing company founded in 1916. It is one Of the world's best-selling luxury car manufacturers. The company is a component of the Euro Stoxx 50 stock market index. Based in Munich, Bavaria, BMW owns Mini Cars and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces cars under the division of BMW Motorsport and motorcycles under BMW Motorrad, and the electric cars plug-in under the BMW i sub and the designation of the "iPerformance" model within the BMW regular line. BMW was established as a business entity after a restructuring of the aircraft manufacturing firm Rapp Motorenwerke in 1917. After the end of World War I in 1918 BMW was forced to cease production of aviation engines by the Terms of the Armistice Treaty of Versailles. The company consistently changed to motorcycle production as treaty restrictions began to be lifted in 1923, followed by automobiles in 1928-29.
