8 Failed Products from the World’s Biggest Companies

The fight against the competition can sometimes be difficult

• Company: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, also well known as BMW
• Failed product: The M1 – a mid engine sports car

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, also known as BMW, is a German company that produces luxury cars and motorcycles. It was founded in 1916 as Bayerische Flugzeugwerke AG, and renamed in 1922.

Even though they are famous for their luxury cars, BMW didn’t start with a reputation for supercars, especially when they created the M1 in 1978, a mid-engine sports car that proved to be a total failure.

At that time, Porsche cars were excellent at European racing, but unfortunately, the BMW M1 wasn’t able to compete with them. For example, during a 1979 competition, Porsche cars finished in first place, and the BMW M1 came in sixth. The company sold this type of car until 1981 when they discontinued the line.

According to the company, BMW M1 is the first mid engine car to be mass produced. However, in 2013, they launched the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car. They sold about 20,000 units in 2020, making the BMW i8 the best selling plug in electric sports car in the world.

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