MUNICH — German luxury car manufacturer BMW
will throw a lavish 100th birthday party on Monday, looking back at its
often troubled history and forward as it seeks to adapt to the age of
"personal mobility".
Since its First World War beginnings, it has
grown into a multinational company with plants in 14 countries, 116,000
employees and €80bn in annual sales. BMW today makes cars and
motorcycles and its brands include Rolls-Royce and Mini.
Leading its rival Daimler-Benz in units sold, and with VW damaged by the emissions scandal, BMW remains in pole position at the high end of the motor vehicle industry and is seen as a symbol of German engineering prowess. It started life in troubled times — on March 7 1916, making aircraft engines as Germany’s "Bavarian Aircraft Factory".
Leading its rival Daimler-Benz in units sold, and with VW damaged by the emissions scandal, BMW remains in pole position at the high end of the motor vehicle industry and is seen as a symbol of German engineering prowess. It started life in troubled times — on March 7 1916, making aircraft engines as Germany’s "Bavarian Aircraft Factory".
