Bayerische Motoren Werke AG

Type Aktiengesellschaft (FWB: BMW)

Industry Automotive industry

Founded 1916

Founder(s) Franz Josef Popp

Headquarters Munich, Germany

Key people Norbert Reithofer (CEO), Joachim Milberg (Chairman of the supervisory board)

Products Automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles

Revenue €50.68 billion (2009)[1]

Operating
€289 million (2009)[1]
income

Profit €204 million (2009)[1]

Employees 96,230 (2009)[1]

Subsidiaries Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (info) (BMW), (English: Bavarian Motor Works) is a

German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also
owns and produces the MINI brand, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands. BMW is known
 for its performance and luxury vehiclesBMW began building motorcycle engines and then
motorcycles after World War I. Its motorcycle brand is now known as BMW Motorrad. Their
first successful motorcycle, after the failed Helios and Flink, was the "R32" in 1923. This had
a "Boxer" twin engine, in which a cylinder projects into the air-flow from each side of the
machine. Apart from their single cylinder models (basically to the same pattern), all their
motorcycles used this distinctive layout until the early 1980s. Many BMWs are still produced
in this layout, which is designated the R Series.

BMW roundel in 1939

BMW K1200GT

BMW 1955 R67/3 was the last of the "plunger" models

In 2004, BMW introduced the new K1200S Sports Bike which marked a departure for BMW.
It features and engine producing 167 hp (125 kW),derived from the company's work with the
Williams F1 team, and is lighter than previous K models. Innovations include electronically
adjustable front and rear suspension, and a Hossack-type front fork that BMW calls
Duolever.
BMW introduced anti-lock brakes on production motorcycles starting in the late 1980s. The
generation of anti-lock brakes available on the 2006 and later BMW motorcycles pave the
way for the introduction of electronic stability control, or anti-skid technology later in the
2007 model year

The 1 Series, launched in 2004, is BMW's smallest car, and available in coupe/convertible
(E82/E88) and hatchback (E81/E87) forms. The 3 Series, a compact executive car
manufactured since model year 1975, is currently in its fifth generation (E90); models include
the sport sedan (E90), station wagon (E91), coupe (E92), and convertible (E93). Since its first
generation, the 3-Series is considered to be the benchmark, and competitors are often judged
on how close they come to this car. In some countries, it has even outsold significantly
cheaper models, most notably Ford Mondeo in the UK, and accounts for a majority of
BMW's worldwide sales. The 5 Series is a mid-size executive car, available in sedan (E60)
and station wagon (E61) forms. The 5 Series Gran Turismo (F07), beginning in 2010, will
create a segment between station wagons and crossover SUV.[19]

BMW 7-Series (F01)

BMW's full-size flagship executive sedan is the 7 Series. Typically, BMW introduces many
of their innovations first in the 7 Series, such as the somewhat controversial iDrive system.
The 7 Series Hydrogen, featuring one of the world's first hydrogen fueled internal
combustion engines, is fueled by liquid hydrogen and emits only clean water vapor. The
latest generation (F01) debuted in 2009. Based on the 5 Series' platform, the 6 Series is
BMW's grand touring luxury sport coupe/convertible (E63/E64). A 2-seater roadster and
coupe which succeeded the Z3, the Z4 (E85) has been sold since 2002.

BMW X3 SUV (E83)

The X3 (E83), BMW's first crossover SUV (called SAV or "Sports Activity Vehicle" by
BMW) debuted in 2003 and is based on the E46/16 3 Series platform. Marketed in Europe as
an off-roader, it benefits from BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive system. The all-wheel drive X5
(E70) is a mid-size luxury SUV (SAV) sold by BMW since 2000. A 4-seat crossover SUV
released by BMW in December 2007, the X6 is marketed as a "Sports Activity Coupe"
(SAC) by the BMW. The upcoming X1 extends the BMW Sports Activity Series model
lineup

GERMAN CUISINE

A German style buffet

German cuisine is a style of cooking derived from the nation of Germany. It has evolved as
a national cuisine through centuries of social and political change with variations from region
to region. The southern regions of Germany, Bavaria and Swabia share many dishes.
Ingredients and dishes vary by province. There are many significant regional dishes that have
become both national and regional. Many dishes that were once regional, however, have
proliferated in different variations across the country in the present day.

Staple foods
Pork, beef, and poultry are the main varieties of meat consumed in Germany, with pork being the
most popular. The average person in Germany will consume up to 61 kg. (140 lbs.) meat in a year.
Among poultry, chicken is most common, although duck, goose, and turkey are also enjoyed. Game
meats, especially boar, rabbit, and venison are also widely available all year round. Lamb and goat
are also available, but are not as popular.

Meat is usually pot-roasted; pan-fried dishes also exist, but these recipes usually originate
from France. Throughout Germany, meat is very often eaten as sausages. There are more than
1500 different types of sausage (Wurst)[7] in Germany.

Fish
Trout is the most common freshwater fish on the German menu; pike, carp, and European
perch also are listed frequently. Seafood traditionally was restricted to the northern coastal
areas, except for pickled herring, often served as Rollmops (a pickled herring fillet rolled into
a cylindrical shape around a piece of pickled gherkin or onion). Today many sea fish, like
fresh herring, tuna, mackerel, salmon and sardines are well established throughout the
country. Prior to the industrial revolution and the ensuing pollution of the rivers, salmon were
common in the rivers of Rhine, Elbe, and Oder.

Vegetables
Vegetables are often used in stews or vegetable soups, but are also served as a side dish.
Carrots, turnips, spinach, peas, beans, broccoli and many types of cabbage are very common.
Fried onions are a common addition to many meat dishes throughout the country. Asparagus,
especially white asparagus known in English as spargel (the German name for asparagus), is
a common side dish or may be prepared as a main dish. Restaurants will sometimes devote an
entire menu to nothing but white asparagus when it is in season. Spargel season (German:
Spargelzeit or Spargelsaison) traditionally begins in mid-May and ends on St. John's Day (24
June).

Potatoes, while a major part of the German cuisine, are usually not counted among vegetables
by Germans

Typical serving of spargel with Hollandaise sauce and potatoes.

German sausages and cheese

Desserts
 Black Forest cake
.

A wide variety of cakes and tarts are served throughout the country, most commonly made
with fresh fruit. Apples, plums, strawberries, and cherries are used regularly in cakes.
Cheesecake is also very popular, often made with quark. Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte is
another very well-known cake, made with cherries. German doughnuts (which have no hole)
are usually balls of yeast dough with jam or other fillings, and are known as Berliner,
Kreppel or Krapfen depending on the region. Eierkuchen or Pfannkuchen are large, and
relatively thin pancakes, comparable to the French Crèpes. A popular dessert in northern
Germany is "Rote Grütze", red fruit pudding, which is made with black and red currants,
raspberries and sometimes strawberries or cherries cooked in juice with corn starch as a
thickener. It is traditionally served with cream, but also is served with vanilla sauce, milk or
whipped cream. "Rhabarbergrütze" (rhubarb pudding) and "Grüne Grütze" (gooseberry fruit
pudding) are variations of the "Rote Grütze". A similar dish, Obstkaltschale, may also be
found all around Germany. In the northern regions of Germany, strawberries are often served
with vanilla ice cream and black pepper. This northern specialty was brought to Germany by
the Hanseatic League in the late 17th century.

Ice cream and sorbets are also very popular. A popular ice cream treat is called Spaghettieis.