Who is the Owner of BMW?

You have seen BMW cars on the road. That iconic logo, those powerful engines, that premium feel. But have you ever stopped and thought about who actually is the owner of BMW?

The answer might surprise you. BMW does not have just one owner. It is owned by a family, and their story goes back over 60 years.

Who is the Owner of BMW?

BMW is mainly owned by the Quandt family, who hold 50.2% of the company's shares. The family has two key members which are Stefan Quandt, who owns 27.7%, and his sister Susanne Klatten, who owns 22.5%.

The remaining 50% is owned by the public. This means anyone in the world can buy shares in BMW and become a small part-owner of the company. So yes, the Quandt family controls BMW. But how did they get here?

The Man Who Saved BMW

To understand who owns BMW today, you need to know about Herbert Quandt. He is the father of Stefan and Susanne.

Herbert Werner Quandt was a German industrialist who is credited with saving BMW when the company was close to going bankrupt.

Back in 1959, BMW was in serious trouble. The company was almost sold to its rival, Daimler-Benz. Herbert Quandt was close to agreeing to that deal but changed his mind at the last minute because of opposition from the workers and trade unions. Instead, he increased his share in BMW to 50%, going against the advice of his own bankers and risking much of his personal wealth. That one decision changed everything.

The BMW website mentions: “As the 1950s progressed, the position of the company became increasingly precarious. In late 1959, Daimler-Benz submitted a restructuring offer for BMW subject to a time limit for acceptance. But small shareholders and the workforce rejected this offer at the Annual General Meeting held on 9 December. Their perseverance and his confidence in the BMW 700 motivated Herbert Quandt to expand his package of shares. After the government provided some temporary financial assistance, BMW was restructured under Quandt’s management in the following year.”

BMW was already planning the BMW 1500 model when Quandt took control. It was launched in 1962 and created a brand new segment in the car market. This model firmly established the long-term success of BMW.

Herbert Quandt passed away in 1982. His children, Stefan and Susanne, inherited his stake in the company and have held it ever since.

Who Are Stefan Quandt and Susanne Klatten?

Stefan Quandt is an engineer and businessman based in Germany. Susanne Klatten is one of the richest women in Germany. She is a successful investor and is known for keeping a very low public profile despite her enormous wealth.

Together, the two siblings hold majority control over BMW. This means they have the final say in major company decisions.

What is BMW Group?

BMW is headquartered in Munich, Germany, and is owned by its parent company, BMW Group, which also owns the luxury brands MINI and Rolls-Royce.

The full name of the company in German is Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft. The first part translates to "Bavarian Motor Works" in English.

So when you see a BMW, a MINI, or a Rolls-Royce on the road, all three cars come from the same parent company.

BMW Was Not Always a Car Company

This is the part most people do not know. BMW started in 1916 as Bayerische Flugzeug-Werke, a builder of aircraft engines. It assumed the name Bayerische Motoren Werke only in 1917 and began producing motorcycles in the 1920s. BMW entered the automobile business only in 1928. So before it made cars, BMW made engines for aeroplanes.

However, after World War I ended, the Treaty of Versailles required BMW to stop all production of airplane engines permanently. The company then turned to making motorcycles.

BMW launched its first-ever vehicle, the R32 motorcycle, in 1923. It was a big hit. BMW became an automobile manufacturer only in 1928, when it purchased a company called Fahrzeugfabrik Eisenach.

And there is one more surprising chapter. After World War II, BMW's factories were destroyed and the company was banned from making cars or aircraft. BMW survived this period by making household items. In 1948, it restarted motorcycle production. Car production only resumed in 1952.

BMW is not owned by one single person. It is the result of a family's bold decision taken over 60 years ago. Herbert Quandt bet everything on a struggling car company. His children today run one of the most respected car brands in the world. That is the real story behind the badge on every BMW.