BMW Group
German multinational luxury automobile and motorcycle manufacturer specializing in premium vehicles and mobility services.
Company Type
public
Founded
1916
Headquarters
Munich, Bavaria, Germany
Stock
FSE: BMW
About BMW Group
What does BMW Group own?
BMW Group owns four brands: BMW (premium automobiles), MINI (premium compact vehicles), Rolls-Royce (ultra-luxury automobiles), and BMW Motorrad (premium motorcycles). The company also operates BMW Financial Services, which provides financing, leasing, and insurance products in more than 50 countries.
BMW Group owns four brands: BMW (premium automobiles), MINI (premium compact vehicles), Rolls-Royce (ultra-luxury automobiles), and BMW Motorrad (premium motorcycles). The company also operates BMW Financial Services, which provides financing, leasing, and insurance products in more than 50 countries.
Who owns BMW Group?
BMW Group is publicly traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under ticker BMW. The Quandt family (Stefan Quandt and Susanne Klatten) holds approximately 47% of shares as the dominant shareholder. The remaining shares are held by institutional investors and individual shareholders.
BMW Group is publicly traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under ticker BMW. The Quandt family (Stefan Quandt and Susanne Klatten) holds approximately 47% of shares as the dominant shareholder. The remaining shares are held by institutional investors and individual shareholders.
What is BMW Group's annual revenue?
In FY2024, BMW Group reported revenue of €142.4 billion and profit before tax of €11.0 billion. The company delivered approximately 2.45 million passenger vehicles and more than 210,000 motorcycles.
In FY2024, BMW Group reported revenue of €142.4 billion and profit before tax of €11.0 billion. The company delivered approximately 2.45 million passenger vehicles and more than 210,000 motorcycles.
Who is BMW's CEO?
Oliver Zipse has served as Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG since August 2019, succeeding Harald Krueger. Zipse has led BMW Group's technology-neutral electrification strategy and its continued expansion in electric vehicles.
Oliver Zipse has served as Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG since August 2019, succeeding Harald Krueger. Zipse has led BMW Group's technology-neutral electrification strategy and its continued expansion in electric vehicles.
Does BMW own Rolls-Royce?
Yes, BMW Group owns Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, the manufacturer of ultra-luxury automobiles. BMW acquired the rights to produce Rolls-Royce automobiles in 1998 and began production at a purpose-built factory in Goodwood, England, in 2003. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is a wholly owned subsidiary of BMW Group and is distinct from Rolls-Royce Holdings, the British aerospace and defense company.
Yes, BMW Group owns Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, the manufacturer of ultra-luxury automobiles. BMW acquired the rights to produce Rolls-Royce automobiles in 1998 and began production at a purpose-built factory in Goodwood, England, in 2003. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is a wholly owned subsidiary of BMW Group and is distinct from Rolls-Royce Holdings, the British aerospace and defense company.
What is BMW's relationship with the Quandt family?
The Quandt family, specifically Stefan Quandt and Susanne Klatten, holds approximately 47% of BMW Group shares. Their father, Herbert Quandt, rescued BMW from near-bankruptcy in 1959 by investing in the company, and the family has maintained its dominant ownership position ever since. The Quandt family's concentrated ownership gives them significant influence over BMW Group's strategic direction.
The Quandt family, specifically Stefan Quandt and Susanne Klatten, holds approximately 47% of BMW Group shares. Their father, Herbert Quandt, rescued BMW from near-bankruptcy in 1959 by investing in the company, and the family has maintained its dominant ownership position ever since. The Quandt family's concentrated ownership gives them significant influence over BMW Group's strategic direction.
History of BMW Group
BMW Group traces its origins to 1916 with the founding of Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (Bavarian Aircraft Works) in Munich, which produced aircraft engines for the German military during World War I. The company was reorganized and renamed Bayerische Motoren Werke GmbH (Bavarian Motor Works) in 1917, with the BMW name and the distinctive roundel logo derived from the Bavarian state colors of blue and white.
Following World War I, the Treaty of Versailles prohibited Germany from producing aircraft engines, forcing BMW to pivot. The company began producing motorcycle engines in 1923, introducing the R32, its first complete motorcycle, at the Paris Motor Show. The R32 established BMW's reputation for engineering innovation and became the template for BMW motorcycle design for decades.
BMW entered the automobile market in 1928 by acquiring Fahrzeugfabrik Eisenach, which produced the Dixi car under license from Austin of England. The company's first independently designed automobile, the BMW 303, was introduced in 1933 and featured the iconic twin-kidney grille that remains a BMW design signature today. Through the 1930s, BMW established itself as a manufacturer of premium automobiles and set numerous speed records with its racing cars.
During World War II, BMW produced aircraft engines and motorcycles for the German military and, like many German industrial companies, used forced labor from concentration camps. The company has acknowledged this history. After the war, BMW's factories were damaged or dismantled by Allied forces, and the company faced severe financial difficulties through the late 1940s and 1950s.
The company's survival was secured in 1959 when Herbert Quandt, a German industrialist, invested in BMW and prevented a takeover by Daimler-Benz. Quandt's investment, and the subsequent success of the BMW 1500 "New Class" sedan introduced in 1962, transformed BMW into a profitable premium automobile manufacturer. The New Class established the formula of sporty, driver-focused premium sedans that became BMW's defining product philosophy.
BMW expanded its model range through the 1970s and 1980s with the introduction of the 3 Series (1975), 5 Series (1972), and 7 Series (1977), which became the core of BMW's lineup and remain in production today. The company also established manufacturing operations in South Africa (1973) and the United States (Spartanburg, South Carolina, 1994).
In 1994, BMW acquired the Rover Group, a British automotive conglomerate that included the Rover, Land Rover, MG, and Mini brands. The acquisition proved difficult to integrate, and BMW sold most of the Rover Group in 2000, retaining only the Mini brand and the Rolls-Royce name rights. BMW acquired the rights to produce Rolls-Royce automobiles from Volkswagen Group in 1998 and began producing Rolls-Royce cars at a new factory in Goodwood, England, in 2003.
The revived MINI brand, launched in 2001 with a new model designed by BMW, became a significant commercial success, establishing BMW Group's presence in the premium compact segment. MINI is produced primarily at the Oxford plant in England and has expanded into a family of models including the Clubman, Countryman, Convertible, and Paceman.
Oliver Zipse became Chairman of the Board of Management in August 2019, succeeding Harald Krueger. Zipse has led BMW Group's electrification strategy, which emphasizes offering customers a choice of powertrains rather than a rapid transition exclusively to battery electric vehicles.
Brands Owned by BMW Group
BMW Group owns 4 brands in our database.
BMW 3 Series
Owned by BMW Group
Compact luxury sedan manufactured by BMW, known for performance, driving dynamics, and premium positioning.
luxurysedancompact
BMW Motorrad
Owned by BMW Group
Premium motorcycle division of BMW Group, producing motorcycles and two-wheeled vehicles since 1923.
motorcyclesautomotivepremium
BMW
Owned by BMW Group
German luxury automobile brand known for performance-oriented sedans, SUVs, and electric vehicles.
luxury-carsautomotivegerman-brand
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
Owned by BMW Group
British ultra-luxury automotive brand, manufacturer of the world's most prestigious handcrafted automobiles.
ultra-luxuryautomotivebritish-brand
Shop BMW Group Brands
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Stock Information
BMW Group Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +World's largest premium automobile manufacturer by volume with strong brand equity across BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce
- +Quandt family's approximately 47% stake provides long-term ownership stability and strategic continuity
- +Technology-neutral powertrain strategy allows flexibility as EV adoption rates vary by market
- +BMW Motorrad is the world's leading premium motorcycle brand by revenue
- +BMW Financial Services provides a stable, recurring revenue stream that supports vehicle sales
Considerations
- -FY2024 profitability impacted by a significant brake system recall affecting approximately 1.5 million vehicles
- -China market faces headwinds from domestic premium brand competition and slowing economic growth
- -Transition to electric vehicles requires substantial capital investment in battery technology and manufacturing
- -Quandt family's concentrated ownership limits the influence of other shareholders on corporate strategy
- -Automotive industry cyclicality creates revenue and earnings volatility
Frequently Asked Questions About BMW Group
What does BMW Group own?
BMW Group owns four brands: BMW (premium automobiles), MINI (premium compact vehicles), Rolls-Royce (ultra-luxury automobiles), and BMW Motorrad (premium motorcycles). The company also operates BMW Financial Services, which provides financing, leasing, and insurance products in more than 50 countries.
Who owns BMW Group?
BMW Group is publicly traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under ticker BMW. The Quandt family (Stefan Quandt and Susanne Klatten) holds approximately 47% of shares as the dominant shareholder. The remaining shares are held by institutional investors and individual shareholders.
What is BMW Group's annual revenue?
In FY2024, BMW Group reported revenue of €142.4 billion and profit before tax of €11.0 billion. The company delivered approximately 2.45 million passenger vehicles and more than 210,000 motorcycles.
Who is BMW's CEO?
Oliver Zipse has served as Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG since August 2019, succeeding Harald Krueger. Zipse has led BMW Group's technology-neutral electrification strategy and its continued expansion in electric vehicles.
Does BMW own Rolls-Royce?
Yes, BMW Group owns Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, the manufacturer of ultra-luxury automobiles. BMW acquired the rights to produce Rolls-Royce automobiles in 1998 and began production at a purpose-built factory in Goodwood, England, in 2003. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is a wholly owned subsidiary of BMW Group and is distinct from Rolls-Royce Holdings, the British aerospace and defense company.
What is BMW's relationship with the Quandt family?
The Quandt family, specifically Stefan Quandt and Susanne Klatten, holds approximately 47% of BMW Group shares. Their father, Herbert Quandt, rescued BMW from near-bankruptcy in 1959 by investing in the company, and the family has maintained its dominant ownership position ever since. The Quandt family's concentrated ownership gives them significant influence over BMW Group's strategic direction.
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