BMW^® has an avid fan base, but even if you’re an expert in their vehicles, there might be a lot you didn’t know about the car manufacturer. The company has a long history of making incredible vehicles since it was first started in 1916. The auto show experts at Charlotte AutoFair in North Carolina share a few of their favorite little-known facts about BMW.

3 Fun Facts About BMW

1. They Started in Aviation

Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) was founded in 1916 by Franz Popp, Karl Rapp, and Camillo Castiglioni. They did not begin by manufacturing vehicles—but aircraft engines. There was a high demand for aircraft during World War I which they responded to.

They started manufacturing their first product in 1917, which was the Illa aircraft engine. The engines they created are known as being some of the best during World War I due to their fuel efficiency and impressive performance at high altitude. They stopped producing engines after the war but started doing so again during World War II in 1945.

2. Their Headquarters Honors Their 4-Cylinder Legacy

The BMW headquarters in Munich is a familiar shape for all auto show fans. The Austrian architect Karl Schwanzer designed the building as an homage to the four-cylinder engines that BMW was so well-known for in the 1960s. The building was completed in 1972, just in time for the Olympic games across the street, and has become a well-known local landmark since then.

3. They Produce Cars Due to the Treaty of Versailles

The Treaty of Versailles at the end of World War I put a lot of limitations on Germany, and one of them impacted BMW. German companies were banned from producing engines for warplanes. To stay in business, they decided to start producing motorcycles instead and quickly moved into car manufacturing.

Charlotte AutoFair has been bringing together antique car enthusiasts for more than 30 years. If you are a collector with a passion for classic vehicles—BMW or otherwise—their auto show is the place to be. Visit them online to learn more about their vintage auto show, and call them at (704) 841-1990 to register your own vehicle.