Bayerische Motoren Werke GmbH-Bayerische Motoren Werke GmbH is the abbreviation of Bayerische Motoren Werke GmbH. BMW was founded in 1917 when Rapp-Motorenwerke in Munich merged with BMW. In 1920, the corporation was renamed Knorr-Bremse AG before being renamed BMW AG in 1922. It succeeded Bayerische Flugzeugwerke AG, which was created in 1916.