BMW started off making aircraft engines over a hundred years ago when powered aircraft were first being developed .... which is why their logo is a circle with four different coloured quarters, it's the image of a spinning propeller

Just don't ask them what they were doing between 1933 and 1945

[–] ouRKaoS@lemmy.today 43 points 3 months ago

Nintendo started off making playing cards, that's why their logo is a [Remainder of comment removed due to Cease and Desist]

[–] cmgvd3lw@discuss.tchncs.de 27 points 3 months ago

This is a misconception. The chequered blue and white is part of a Bavarian flag, but due to some legal issues they had to straighten it.

[–] Ragdoll_X@lemmy.world 19 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Just don't ask them what they were doing between 1933 and 1945

[–] dubyakay@lemmy.ca 6 points 3 months ago

Silent movies with Chaplin?

[–] JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works 16 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I think it's also a reference to the bavarian flag.

[–] ininewcrow@lemmy.ca 8 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Yes .... and because of that, for the longest time, because so many people repeated it, I thought the acronym stood for Bavarian Motor Works ... its actually 'Bayerische Motoren Werke'

[–] bob_lemon@feddit.org 34 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Which is literally just German for Bavarian Motor Works.

[–] ininewcrow@lemmy.ca 19 points 3 months ago

German for Bavarian Motor Works

God damit! .... I was right all along ... just in the wrong language!

[–] Ephera@lemmy.ml 14 points 3 months ago

The image of a propeller is from an ad they once ran, but the logo existed beforehand.

[–] Kusimulkku@lemm.ee 7 points 3 months ago

Business, ofc

[–] LordWiggle@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

Peugeot started off making pepper and salt grinders.