PROFILE OF BMW

Profile of BMW



Profile of BMW

Introduction

In the year of 2000, the first passenger vehicle on the consumer's market that had an IR based night vision enhancement system, the 2000 model GM Cadillac DeVille, was brought into market. Since then, NVESs have been available for vehicles from various manufacturers, such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Honda, Volvo, etc., either as factory option or as after- market add-ons. Based on the appearance of APDWs, the developing course of NVESs on vehicles can be divided into two phases-1st generation: NVESs without APDWs before 2005, 2nd generation: NVESs integrated with APDWs after 2005. In the year of 2002, Toyota introduced its first production automotive NIR Night view on Lexus. Two separate headlamps illuminate the road with near infrared light. A windscreen top-mounted camera, designed to precisely pick up reflected radiation, can give a viewpoint close to drivers. The radiation signal is then processed and sent to a Head-Up display (HUD) positioned on windshield. In 2008, Toyota updated its Night View systems with a new feature, which highlights pedestrians and presents them in a box on the display. Two additional cameras were also added to the locations of the left and right mirrors to produce a broadened view for drivers. Mercedes-Benz introduced the Night View Assist to the market in 2005. The system works in the same way as the Toyota's product in 2002 except the position, a Headdown display (HDD) on the dashboard. In 2009, Mercedes-Benz released its newest Night View Assist Plus to the public. In this version, Detected pedestrians are highlighted on the display by means of a specially developed pedestrian-detection function. Therefore, all the issues and aspects related to Profile of BMW will be discussed in detail.

Discussion

BMW was established in1917 and took over the Bayerische Flugzeug-Werke (BFW) in 1922, which was founded in 1916. BMW purchased the car factory at Eisenach/Thuringia in 1928 which had a license to build a small car, the Dixi. The company also concluded a license agreement with American aircraft-engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney to build radial engines. In 1929, the company produced the first BMW car, Dixi. During the early 1950s, BMW's global expansion was well underway, with the company exporting nearly one fifth of all its output. Following losses in the big limousine segment, BMW was put up for sale in 1959. However, small shareholders and dealers helped BMW to continue with a new capital structure. The period also saw cooperation with Steyr Daimler Puch. BMW became the first European car company to establish a subsidiary in Japan in 1981. In 1988, the Z1 roadster was launched and the company opened a BMW repair center in Moscow and an import center in Japan. In 1990, BMW returned to the manufacturing of aero engines by establishing BMW Rolls Royce. BMW established a research and innovation center in Munich's northern suburbs in 1990, comprising design, construction and test facilities; a prototype construction unit; and a pilot plant. BMW purchased the British based car manufacturer, Rover ...