This four-minute video talks about the origins of the BMW logo, dispelling the myth that the emblem was based upon rotating aircraft propellers.

Transcribed from the video:

“Aircraft engines are the origin of the myth. People think that the BMW logo is based on a rotating airscrew. The origin of this interpretation is the cover of a BMW aircraft magazine. This picture (shown below) was taken in 1929, years after the logo first came into existence. Respect for the publicity department back then for the fact that the airscrew myth continues today.”

1929 BMW aircraft magazine cover illustration (close-up)

So what’s really behind the logo’s origin?

Kai Jacobson, automobile historian with the BMW Group said, “As Rapp grew into BMW, BMW assumed all the business segments, and the company wanted the logo to be oriented on Rapp’s logo. As you can see here on this example, Rapp has a black horse as a symbol on its logo. BMW chose the Bavarian national colours as a symbol, but arranged the letters exactly like Rapp. So you can see very clearly how the BMW logo was developed.”

Rapp Motoren Werke logo, Bayerische Motoren Werke logo

Flag of Bavaria, courtesy of Thinkstock

More logo evolution features: Starbucks, Shell, Mercedes-Benz, Pepsi, BBC, Braun, Batman.