Anyone know where the BMW symbol started from? Here's some history on it.


The famous white and blue symbol of BMW stems from the company's origins as aeroplane engine manufacturers.
Many aircraft were painted in regional colours and those of the Bavarian Luftwaffe were the Bayern white and blue.
It is said that the pilot's view through the propeller was one of white and blue
alternating segments.

Through the years this image has become stylised into solid quarters of blue and white to declare the identity of today's BMW cars and motorcycles. Since the end of the 1970s BMW has worked to create a standardised international image in terms of statement and presentation so that today whenever people encounter the company's symbols they recognise BMW







» BMW roundel story. An evolution of the BMW logo:


1915
An artistic vision of an inspiration behind the BMW roundel. A silver propeler blade turns with the big speed creating an illusion of an object.
A modern drawing executed for the BMW publications.

1917
One of the first BMW roundels.



1926
BMW roundel on a R42 motorcycle


1936
BMW logo in a 328 model brochure. Please note that the letter types have changed.



1940
The letter types have changed and the letters moved apart to the sides.
A motorycle roundel from 1940.



ca. 1949
The letters remain apart, they grow bigger.
A roundel on the BMW motorcycle just after the WWII. BMW as one of the factories working for the Nazi Germany war effort, was not allowed to produce cars at the time. Only in Eisenach in East Germany, in the Soviet Occupation Zone some cars were produced.



1955
Golden color was replaced by silver. BMW logo on Isetta car.



1955
A version of the BMW logo at the time of Isetta car.
Please note that letter have lost its serifs and only the letter B has a distinctive design.



from 1960
BMW logo today. Simple, fat letters are used.


2006
BMW roundel generated through the laser light show.



2006

An artistic impression of the probable logo evolution