BMW stands for Bavarian Motor Works, a German automaker with a global reputation for premium performance and executive elegance. Learn about BMW's history, logo, cars, and traditions in this article. The moniker, " BMW ", first came into use when the German firm, Rapp Motorenwerke, changed its name to Bayerische Motoren Werke GmbH ( BMW GmbH) in 1917. The BMW full form is Bayerische Motoren Werke , which means Bavarian Motor Works in English. The brand’s name indicates that it comes from Bavaria, where Germany’s engineering and industrial reputation is well-known. The full name, Bayerische Motoren Werke – or Bavarian Motor Works – is a bit of a mouthful after all ( Read more: The BMW name and its history). And, as the above would indicate, it is German – Bavaria is a state in the south of Germany – the initials just happen to be the same in English.
