BMW Scooter

[Barry]

So if we had the BMW scooter we may never have had the Isetta!

http://bmwinternational.rbplimited.co.uk/Pdf/2012/The_original_BMW_scooter.pdf

[Big Al]

Story had the Scooter on loan at one time. I think it was to celebrate a BMW anniversary and off course the Isetta presence for the Story Rally was always high as the senior helpers were Isetta / BMW people. They probably did make the right choice. Hans Glas dropped the very successful Goggo scooters in favour of the Goggomobil for the same reasons and was rewarded with good sales. The value added of a car over a scooter is greater too so each unit should be more profitable. Interestingly Hienkel kept the faith but passed the car on. Mind you the Tourist was not your ordinary scooter and it might have created its own niche market. Much as something like a 1000cc Guzzi amongst the screaming two stroke bikes of the time. You either like the Tourist or not. There is no doubting its ability to eat miles. The competition and high quality of the South German transport construction business certainly shook out the substandard designs and wrong business decisions could be terminal. Ultimately it created the solid surviving firms we in Britain have lost.

[marcus]

I had never heard of the BMW scooter. Interesting that it was not produced in favour of the Isetta, but there were plenty of companies making scooters, Mopeds and smallish bikes, so probably a good decision.

[Big Al]

It is a pretty well documented decision for the reasons I outlined. BMW, while smart engineers, were commercially a bit more savy than their competitors. They got badly treated after the war with their technical know how raped as war reparations. Fiscally they got into difficulties and needed a volume success. On taking the Isetta on they were vigorous in defence of the market niche using threats and court action. That said they still did not get it all right as the BMW 600 did not perform to expectation.
No one can be sure but would the scooter have sold in the numbers of the Isetta? It would not have carried the level of return margin or number of employees that BMW wanted as it had plans to greater things. Hans Glas later recognised that the two business would merge well and negotiations were completed creating a strong company. Goggo made money out of Scooters but left them for car production over the period that led to the BMW Isetta hitting the market. For the same reasons despite having a successful design in production. His original prototype was not far from the BMW 600/Dornier Delta and Zundapp Janus but he decided to move the Goggo a little further up market with proper doors. Shrewd move as not much competition with the Isetta itself yet it saw off the BMW 600. BMW answered with the larger 700 and that competed with the Goggo/Isar/Isard 600/700 rather winning out. Honours even then.

[richard]

take your point al but dont think bmw were as badly treated as the rest of us would have been , had the second world war turned out differently eh ?

[Big Al]

Very true. BMW were obviously a target having made engines for all those planes that extended warfare to ever more indiscriminate action with the Blitz culminating in the firestorms of the 1000 bomber raids. Hang on that was our side. No one comes out of it well but to the victor the spoils. Much good it did us in the long run. I am still surprised the Germans are as friendly towards us as they are as there is no doubt that revenge was taken in full measure at times. My father would have said 'serves them right' but I am not so sure. The danger is you become as bad as the ideals you are fighting against. Also in trashing their country we gave them every incentive to work hard to rebuild and gain a far stronger work ethic than our own and thus be outperformed. So in a way Hitler was right but for the wrong reasons. Good job he was removed from the board though.
What would have the German's have taken as war reparations on winning. Villiers? And here comes the German Chancellor in the front wheel drive Mercedes MkG limousine, gently turning 180 degrees to meet the red carpet on the only rear door. Perhaps not.