Before 1918 BMW only manufactured aeroplane engines, however after World War I, they moved away from aviation engine production and by 1923 started to focus on the production of motorcycles.

Between 1928 and 1929 the company established itself within the car industry, one of their earliest production cars being the famous Dixi 3-15 DA (Pictured).

The Dixi 3-15 DA was so successful that it helped to sustain BMW through the Great Depression, an event that crippled many businesses of the time.

Just 6 years later in 1936 BMW returned with the BMW type roadster, which also became a high-selling model and one of the most successful and popular sports cars of the era. In 1999 it was even nominated as the car of the century, demonstrating the impact this remarkable and stunningly designed vehicle had.

In 1949 onwards BMW continued to evolve producing the six cylinder 501, the 502 with a V8 engine, the BMW 507 (pictured), the four cylinder BMW 1500, the 1600, 1800 and the very popular BMW 2002.

These models helped to establish BMW as a market leader for sports vehicles and by 1970 the company became the renowned and innovative company we are familiar with today.

During this early period in the company’s history the BMW New Class, a series of sedans and sporting coupes, were created which were so popular that they were continually developed until 2002.

It was this range that grabbed the attention of motor enthusiasts and established the company as the global brand that it has now become.

These models were also unique in that they were powered by BMW’s four-cylinder M10 engine and featured a fully independent suspension system and front disc brakes for safer and faster breaking.

Some of the more recent models include the 3 Series, 7 Series, X3 SUV and the M3 Coupe.

The BMW 3-Series is a mid-sized executive car, which is now in its fifth generation. It was so popular that it has now been adapted and is available as the sport sedan E90, coupe E92, station wagon E91 and convertible E93. It has even been adapted into the 5 Series Gran Turismo, which is a fusion of a station wagon and a crossover SUV.

The 7-Series (pictured) has been the leading executive sedan from BMW and has even set the trend for future models. This is because it had an iDrive system and it was the first model to utilise a hydrogen fuelled internal combustion engine, which only emits clean water vapour.

The BMW X3 SUV is the first crossover SUV from BMW and is an off-roader to rival Jeep or Land Rover. These “Sports Activity Vehicles” or “Sports Activity Coupe” have been continually improved with newer models being regularly released. This model also helped the public to come to associate BMW as an all round car manufacturer rather than just a sport coupe manufacturer. It is also a model that has caused waves, with its innovative design and immense performance.

Another model worth mentioning is the BMW M3 Coupé (pictured below), based on the 3 Series; this model became a race-ready production vehicle. It also boasts a symmetric design that has been heralded as beautiful and unrivalled. It also has an award winning engine that provides power and efficiency.

This efficiency is something that BMW has actively developed and promoted within the industry. The company is a charter member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) and it is also an active member of the South Carolina Environmental Excellence Program.

In fact, BMW has taken measures to seriously reduce the CO2 output of their vehicles, by developing more efficient engines and alternative types of fuel.

This has involved the redevelopment of older models and the design of completely new models that have been specifically designed to be more fuel efficient and less damaging to the environment.

At present BMW have 49 models that have a lower level of carbon emissions than the average vehicle, with 20 of these having CO2 output less than 140 g/km.