BMW

The acronym BMW actually stands for "Bayerische Motoren Werke AG" and this company is one of the largest manufacturers of automobiles in the world. Their headquarters is located in Munich and although many may be unaware of the fact, BMW is the umbrella company for Rolls Royce Motors. Alongside Audi and Mercedes-Benz, BMW is known to be the third in the "Big Three" companies of German automobile manufacturers. As BMW in produced over 1.4 million vehicles in 2010, this title is indeed well-earned. Abroad, BMW vehicles are considered to be rather high-end vehicles and have proven themselves quite popular amongst automobile aficionados as well as the younger generation of drivers.

The roots of BMW can be traced back to the end of the First World War. The company was originally involved in the aircraft industry (as can be seen by its logo; the blue signifying the sky and the white portions representing propeller blades). However, the treaty of Versailles prohibited German aircraft production, so BMW instead began to develop motorcycles. During the later 1920s, the company first began mass producing vehicles.

While the company did indeed see some turbulent times, BMW now enjoys the position of being ranked the world's most respected automobile manufacturer (according to a survey conducted by Forbes magazine in 2012). Recently, BMW has taken a pronounced foray into the sector of green-powered vehicles and it was announced in 2013 that an entire range of electrically powered cars will be made available to the general public in the years to come.