10 Facts Everyone Should Know About BMW - NewsBreak

Bayerische Motoren Werke, or BMW as we commonly know it, was founded as an aircraft engine manufacturer in 1916. Its first product was a straight-six engine, a layout it's famous for today in its cars. However, designer Max Friz had a better idea for an airplane engine using just four cylinders. The IIIA engine was reportedly renowned by the Red Baron, the most successful fighter pilot of World War I, referring to it as the "greatest engine." It was revolutionary, and demand from the military ensured BMW's growth and expansion through World War I.