The BMW Group was founded in Munich in 1916 as "Bayerische Flugzeugwerke AG" (Bavarian Aircraft Works). Currently it has 22 production and assembly plants in 12 countries with 103,000 associates worldwide. As the most successful and profitable manufacturer of premium automobiles and motorcycles, the BMW Group has achieved new record figures for sales volume and revenues for consecutive years.

Worldwide, 1,328,000 automobiles were delivered in 2005. Sales of the BMW brand reached 1,126,800. Sales of the MINI brand, for the first time passed the 200,000 mark, reaching 200,400. 2005 was also a top year for BMW Motorcycles, with sales reaching 97,747 vehicles. Compared with 2004, group revenues rose by 5.2% to euro 46,656 million.

Persistence on the premium brands strategy is the basis for BMW Group's success. The BMW Group covers the BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands. The BMW Group is the only automobile and motorcycle manufacturer worldwide to operate with all its brands exclusively in the premium segments, from the small car to the absolute top segment. The BMW Group's brand each has a clear brand image, and the vehicles provide outstanding product substance in terms of aesthetic design, dynamic performance, cutting-edge technology and quality, underlining the company's leadership in technology and innovation.

BMW is the abbreviation of Bayerische Motoren Werke and in China is translated into Chinese "Bao Ma". The BMW Group concentrated initially on the development and production of aero engines. The blue and white BMW logo symbolizes the rotating propeller, reflecting the early age of the BMW Group.

The BMW products debuted in the Chinese mainland market in the late 1980's. The establishment of the BMW AG Beijing Representative Office in April 1994 marks the official presence of the BMW Group in the Chinese Mainland. In the past decade, the three brands under the BMW Group have all be represented in China, and have been widely known and recognized.