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Keeping a mental library of key BMW facts can be essential for salespeople who want to go from good to great.
BMWs are status symbols in our country. People work grueling hours for years and years to reach an income level that allows them to own a BMW. When you meet these individuals in your dealership, they’re not always ready to buy; they may be shopping around for just the right deal. It’s up to you to create an outstanding experience from the get-go that makes them want to stick around, tour the showroom, go on a couple of test drives, and buy from you.
One sales tool you can use is to learn, memorize, and share various BMW facts. How does this help? It shows prospective buyers you aren’t just “another” salesperson — you’re a brand expert. Interesting facts can also strike a chord with certain buyers and help close a deal that may need an additional bit of effort. When you’re selling high-end vehicles, you have to be willing to go the extra mile to elevate the experience; some solid BMW facts in your back pocket can do the trick.
BMW facts auto salespeople can use to close deals
1. BMW is an acronym.
It stands for Bayerische Motoren Werke, but its original company name was even more of a mouthful — Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW). BFW was founded on March 7, 1916, and BMW considers that to be the beginning of the entire company.
2. Three companies merged to create BMW.
The Flugmaschinefabrik Gustav Otto company, the Bayerische Glugzeug-Werke company and the Rapp Motorenwerke company combined to form BMW. Though they are known for cars and motorcycles, BMW also manufactured aircraft engines and airplanes. In fact, during World War Two, BMW manufactured some of the first jet engines.
3. BMW’s global headquarters in Munich, Germany was designed to celebrate its four-cylinder legacy.
The building, designed by Austrian architecture professor Karl Schwanzer, has been voted as one of the 15 most spectacular corporate head offices.
4. The first BMW car, the Dixi, wasn’t designed by BMW.
It was from England’s Austin Motor Corporation. Austin licensed the design all around the world — it was built by Bantam in the U.S. and Datsun in Japan — and companies bought in because it eliminated development costs for them.
5. BMW claimed the world record for the fastest motorcycle in 1937.
Its motorcycle could reach speeds of up to 173.7 mph. Yes, you read that right.
6. BMW debuted its first electric car at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
It used 12 batteries and could drive up to 19 miles at a time; there were never any plans to sell the vehicle to the public.
7. Nelson Piquet won the Formula One World Championship in 1983.
He drove a car with a 20-year-old BMW M10 four-cylinder engine.
8. The BMW roundel logo does not represent a spinning propeller.
One of the companies that merged to create BMW, Rapp Motors, used the roundel as part of their original logo. The blue and white come from the national colors of the German state of Bavaria.
9. BMW’s iconic kidney grille debuted in 1933 on a BMW 303.
This was also the first BMW car with a six-cylinder engine.
10. BMW is also in the interior design business.
The company designs train and luxury airplane interiors.
11. The first American-made BMW came out in1994.
The 318i rolled off the assembly line on September 8 at the Spartanburg County, South Carolina manufacturing plant.
12. Protecting the environment is important to BMW.
BMW is a member of the South Carolina Environmental Excellence Program and has a spot on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Its factory in South Carolina has a butterfly garden to attract and conserve local butterfly species.
13. The BMW 7 Series Flagship Saloon was named the 2016 World Luxury Car of the Year at the World Car Awards in New York City.
The jury panel was made up of 73 automotive experts and journalists from 20 countries around the globe.
14. BMW also owns MINI and Rolls-Royce.
In 2003, BMW beat out Volkswagen for the rights to the Rolls-Royce name.
15. 2015 was the most successful year ever for BMW.
In 2015, annual sales set a new record for the fifth year in a row. Customers around the world took delivery of a total of 2,247,485 BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce vehicles — that’s a 6.1 percent increase over the previous year.
16. In the fall of 2015, BMW joined Audi and Daimler to acquire Nokia’s digital mapping and location services.
They acquired the business for about $2.8 billion because it is an essential component of self-driving technology.
17. BMW was ranked 51 on the 2016 Fortune Global 500 Business list.
They moved up from 56 in 2015.
Sell other makes and models?
Knowing BMW facts can be helpful if you’re selling BMWs, but if you’re not, that shouldn’t stop you from researching information about the brands you do sell. Take a look at our past blog entries that share facts about Honda, Toyota, and Ford.
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