The Quandt family is the controlling shareholder group of BMW, the German automaker founded in 1916.
Herbert Quandt acquired a substantial stake in BMW during the company’s financial crisis in 1959. His investment helped prevent a takeover and supported BMW’s transformation into a successful independent automobile manufacturer. His descendants, including Stefan Quandt and Susanne Klatten, remain major shareholders.
BMW began as an aircraft-engine manufacturer and later produced motorcycles before becoming famous for cars. The company’s name is an abbreviation of Bayerische Motoren Werke, meaning Bavarian Motor Works. The Quandt family does not mean BMW is privately owned: BMW is a listed corporation, while the family holds a large voting stake through its investments.