Production volume in Germany in 2003 – 698,968 vehicles (excluding the CKD sets). BMW cars are globally thought one of the most luxurious and renowned vehicles that compete with Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Established in 1917, the Bayerische Motoren Werke company initially constructed only airplane engines, in 1923 joined by motorcycles. In October 1928, the BMW bought the Dixi company, producing Wartburg cars as early as in the years 1898-1904, and in the years 1904–1929 – Dixi cars. Since December 1927, the Dixi company has offered, among others, licensed Austin Seven cars, on whose basis, in 1929, the first BMW models were constructed: the 3/15 DA1 and the 3/15 DA2. In the years 1946-51, BMW cars were produced in East Germany (further on as the EMW), while in West Germany the new 502 model was shown in April 1951 and produced from November 1952. The BMW concern took over the following companies: Veritas (1953), AFM (1954), Glas (1966), Mini (1994) and Rolls-Royce (2003). Since 1994, BMW has also possessed such companies as Rover, MG and Land Rover. In 2000, the Land Rover was sold to Ford, and Rover and MG – to the Phoenix consortium. Presently, BMW cars are produced in Germany, Austria (since 2003), the USA (since 1994), China (since 2003), Thailand (since 1973), South Africa (since 1968), Egypt (since 1997), and assembled in Mexico (1995 – 2003), Indonesia, Malaysia (since 1981), the Philippines (since 1994), Vietnam (since 1995) and Russia (since 1999). Latest premieres: Paris 2002 – Z4; Detroit 2003 – 3 Coupe / 3 Cabrio restyling and prototype of x Activity; Geneva 2003 – 3 Compact restyling and M 3 CSL (produced only in 2003); Brno 2003 – new 5 sedan; Frankfurt/Main 2003 – 6 Coupe, X3, X5 restyling; Detroit 2004 – 6 Cabrio; Geneva 2004 – new 5 Touring and prototype of Concept M 5; March 2004 – series 1 hatchback (5-D); Paris 2004 – new M5; October 2004. – fifth generation sedan 3; Detroit 2005 – 5 xi 4x4; Geneva 2005 – 7 restyling, M6 Coupe; April 2005 fifth generation 3 Touring. In 2003, production of the Z8 model was terminated and in December 2004 – 3 Compact. Plans for the future: M7; 2006 – 1 hatchback 3-D, new 3 Coupe / Cabrio, new 3 Compact, new X5; 2007 – Z4 M; 2008 – M3 Coupe / Cabrio, new 7, SC5 station wagon, X5 coupe. In 2003, in 13 countries, 944,072 BMW cars, and in Great Britain – 174,366 Mini and 502 - Rolls Royce cars, were produced.