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Does Bmw Still Make Airplane Engines

By the Editorial Staff

March 16, 2026

Did You Know: BMW Used To Make Aircraft Engines Until It Was Banned?
Did You Know: BMW Used To Make Aircraft Engines Until It Was Banned? Image via simpleflying.com
Did BMW Really Make Airplane Engines (And Does It Still Make Them)?
Did BMW Really Make Airplane Engines (And Does It Still Make Them)? Image via www.slashgear.com

BMW has a long history of manufacturing cars and motorcycles, but did it ever make airplane engines? If the answer is yes, do they still make them? Today, German manufacturing giant BMW is almost exclusively known for its production of some of the most famous luxury vehicles. The engines that power the company's latest generation of cars are undeniably impressive, but there was an era when BMW built engines for bigger and faster machines.

Bmw Airplane Engines
Bmw Airplane Engines Image via guidelibraryjamal55.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com

We are talking, of course, about BMW's history of manufacturing aircraft engines. Before the First. When did BMW start producing jet engines? The German automaker BMW, with its headquarters in Munich, was officially founded in March 1916.

Bmw Engine Airplane at William Emery blog
Bmw Engine Airplane at William Emery blog Image via storage.googleapis.com

From 1917 to 1918 and again from 1933 to 1945, the business produced airplane engines. In actuality, the BMW Illa straight-six aviation engine was the company's first creation. What aircraft engines did BMW make? The BMW 801 was a powerful German 41.8-litre (2,550 cu in) air-cooled 14-cylinder-radial aircraft engine built by BMW and used in a number of German Luftwaffe aircraft of World War II.

BMW IIIa |aircraft investigation|aircraft engines
BMW IIIa |aircraft investigation|aircraft engines Image via aircraftinvestigation.info

Production versions of the twin-row engine generated between 1,560 and 2,000 PS (1,540-1,970 hp, or 1,150-1,470 kW). BMW, or Bayerische Motoren Werke, started its journey in aviation. In the early 20th century, this German company was primarily focused on manufacturing aircraft engines.

Did BMW Ever Make Planes? A History Of The Automaker’s Aircraft Engines
Did BMW Ever Make Planes? A History Of The Automaker’s Aircraft Engines Image via bmwinsights.com

When World War I broke out, BMW transitioned its efforts entirely toward producing engines that powered various aircraft, establishing a significant foothold in the aviation industry. This specialization allowed BMW to. In the early 20th century, BMW originated as an aircraft manufacturer before events led them to pivot toward cars.

15 Little Known Facts About BMW
15 Little Known Facts About BMW Image via www.hotcars.com

However, they temporarily returned to making airplane powerplants during World War II at the Nazi government's behest. So did BMW ever truly make complete planes or just aircraft engines? Let's delve into BMW's little known aviation history. When you think of BMW, you probably picture sleek sedans and high-performance sports cars.

But rewind to 1916, and you'd find the company building something entirely different: airplane engines for World War I aircraft. We know BMW for building iconic cars and powerful engines that can put out 600 horses or more. However, did you know that this Bavarian company used to make airplane engines, too?

After the First World War, BMW was prohibited from building airplane engines for a few years, but by 1930, the company had a full lineup of engines to power airplanes. Does BMW Still Make Airplane Engines? Have you ever been curious about the history of BMW and its involvement in aviation? In this engaging video, we take a.

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