But did you know that 宝⻢ (precious horse) now translates to BMW? Over the past few years BMW China has cleverly played with its Chinese name (宝马 Bao Ma) to emotionally engage with the public during the Chinese New Year festival, spreading joy and the emotional benefit that sits at the heart of BMW's brand.
The nickname “bimmer” originated in the 1970s. At the time, BMW automobiles were enjoying something of a boom in popularity in the US. Americans had initially called BMW cars “beamers,” like the motorcycles – with the exception of the Boston Chapter BMW club, whose newsletter has been called “Bimmer” since the 1970s.
BMW has a strong presence in China. BMW entered the Chinese market in 1994, and it has since become one of the best-selling luxury car brands in the country. In 2022, BMW sold over 791,000 vehicles in China, making it the brand's largest market outside of Germany. BMW has a number of joint ventures in China.
China Revealed A Luxury Car That Shakes The Entire Car Industry
Where is BMW in China?
BMW Brilliance R&D Center is located at the company's Plant Tiexi in Shenyang, China. With a wide range of new R&D facilities added by BMW Brilliance, China is the BMW Group's largest R&D Center outside of Germany, and further equips BBA for future growth.
BMW, which stands for Bayerische Motoren Werke, which in turn translates into Bavarian Motor Works because the brand was founded and is headquartered in Munich in the region of Bavaria, Germany. It's as simple as that.
Porsche's Chinese name is mainly a phonetic match, but the name also connotes speed and timeliness. 捷 means quick, and it is also used in the names of Jaguar, which is 捷豹 (jié bào) and Volkswagen's Jetta, which is 捷达 (jié dá).
To differentiate cars from motorcycles, BMW coined the term Bimmer. Beamer” is the first nickname that was given to BMW. The name appeared for the first time in Great Britain and was used to differentiate the BMW motorcycles from the bikes of a local producer that bore the nickname Beezer.
Übermacht (German for 'Predominance' or 'Overpower') (BAWSAQ: UMA) is a German automotive and heavy construction equipment company featured in the HD Universe of the Grand Theft Auto series. It is likely a parody of the German automobiles manufacturer BMW.
Besides the Beamer name, racing fans and motorbike enthusiasts have also come up with the Beemer nickname, which was constructed in analogy with the Beezers.
The joint venture with BMW is Hong Kong-listed Brilliance China's most valuable asset, accounting for almost all of its net income. BMW spent €3.6 billion ($3.9 billion) in 2022 to lift its stake in the joint venture to 75% from 50%, after the Chinese government removed foreign ownership limits.
Since 'BMW' is just a three-letter word, people tend to pronounce it in the English version - 'bee em double yoo'. However, being a German brand, the English pronunciation isn't valid for the brand name. Thus, the absolutely authentic pronunciation is 'bee em vee'.
Who owns BMW? The automaker is owned by the BMW Group and has its headquarters in Munich, Germany. The BMW Group also owns other well-known brands, including Mini and Rolls-Royce. Many Normal drivers interested in owning a new BMW are also curious about the brand's history.
BYD is making headlines as the top Chinese car brand in 2023 for its electric and plug-in hybrid sales. SAIC remains at the top based on total volume of vehicles sold, while other Chinese car brands like GAC, Geely, and Great Wall Motor are also showing strong domestic and foreign sales.
SAIC Motor Corp Ltd, China FAW Group Co Ltd, BAIC Motor Corporation Ltd, BYD Co Ltd, and Dongfeng Motor Group Co Ltd are the largest 5 automotive OEMs in China in 2021 by revenue.
The country is home to a number of companies that produce cars, construction vehicles, motorcycles, ATVs, and engines. Japanese automotive manufacturers include Toyota, Honda, Daihatsu, Nissan, Suzuki, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Isuzu, Hino, Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Mitsuoka.
