What BMW Actually Stands For and the Propeller Myth

[Sensawl]

Random late night thought while cleaning the X5… I realized a lot of people know BMW stands for something German, but not everyone actually knows what it translates to or where the logo story really came from.

BMW stands for Bayerische Motoren Werke, which translates to Bavarian Motor Works. The company originally built aircraft engines, which is where the whole “spinning propeller” logo explanation came from. But interestingly, the roundel wasn’t originally designed as a propeller that interpretation came later through advertising.

I always thought the propeller story was fact until I looked into it more.

Kind of cool how much aviation history is baked into the brand, especially considering how performance-focused they still are.

Did you guys already know this, or did you also grow up hearing the propeller story as official history?

[Tejas1836]

what is a hunda?

[jaffles]

I'm new to BMW with about 4mth association with the Marc.

This guy posted this on hear which is a good over view to all things BMW. It kicks off with aviation.

[maticCRO]

Or as haters in Stuttgart call it - Bayerische Mist-Wagen (Bavarian crap car hahahaha)

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by Tejas1836

what is a hunda?

Maybe a Hyundai with a Honda engine -- or a Honda with a Hyundai engine?

[25 V8 IS]

It was always my belief that the propeller logo was from the bombs they built to drop on the Allies. Glad I'm incorrect.

[dosmildos]

The Roundel is a sectional view of the Bavarian flag.