Logo designer: Franz Josef Popp
The iconic BMW roundel developed from a combination of the Rapp-Motor roundel, which featured a black silhouette of a horse and the Bovarian state flag, which has a characteristic checkered blue and white design. The BMW logo emerged as a roundel of a black circle enclosing white and blue quadrants.
After World War I, BMW discontinued the production of aircraft engines and shifted to motorcycles and automobiles.
The BMW logo has not changed significantly since its first design in 1917, the only change is that it was reinvisioned to give a 3D effect in the year 2000.