A succinct overview of what BMW stands for, literally and metaphorically. The BMW name is an acronym with a matter-of-fact meaning, but the German automaker has nevertheless become a global ...

What Does BMW Mean? Commonly called BMW, the automaker's full name is Bayerische Motoren Werke AG—which means "Bavarian Motor Works" in German.

The name BMW isn't just a collection of letters; the letters stand for something. Here's where BMW's name comes from, and why car lovers should care.