BMW’s blue and white logo colors traditionally represent Bavaria, the German state where the company originated.
The roundel uses alternating blue and white segments, matching the colors of the Bavarian flag. BMW is headquartered in Munich, Bavaria, and the color pairing connects the company’s identity to that regional heritage. The letters “BMW” appear around the upper part of the circle.
A popular story claims that the roundel depicts a spinning airplane propeller. BMW’s history includes aircraft-engine production, which helped make that interpretation widely known, especially through advertising. However, the Bavarian-color explanation is the established historical account of the logo’s design.
BMW began as Bayerische Motoren Werke, or Bavarian Motor Works. The company’s early history involved aircraft engines before it became known internationally for motorcycles and automobiles. The logo has evolved in detail over time, but the blue-and-white roundel has remained its central visual symbol.