Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, commonly referred to as BMW is a German multinational company which produces luxury vehicles and motorcycles. The company was founded in 1916 as a manufacturer of aircraft engines, which it produced from 1917 until 1918 and again from 1933 to 1945. Today, BMW is known as a luxury car makers around the world and their products remains the gold standard of what a well-built car or motorcycle should be.