A Decade of impact through innovation.

Page Overview

Over the past decade, the BMW Group Startup Garage has become the gateway between the BMW Group and some of the world’s most promising young companies. We have assessed more than 4,700 startups worldwide, collaborated with over 220 innovators from 26 countries, and integrated over 30 of them as trusted partners within the BMW Group network.

Each collaboration begins with a shared goal – to turn pioneering technologies into real-world solutions that create measurable impact. Together with our startup partners, we transform bold ideas into tangible value, driving innovation and sustainable progress across the BMW Group and beyond.

Our anniversary

10 Years of the BMW Group Startup Garage.

our journey

Major Milestones.

Ten years of impact through startup collaboration – celebrating innovation, progress and the partnerships shaping tomorrow’s mobility.

Launch of the BMW Group Startup Garage.

The BMW Group Startup Garage was founded and initiated at the BMW headquarters in Munich.

First startup integrated into the BMW Group Ecosystem.

The startup Mahlzeit was the first startup to be integrated into the processes of the BMW Group and has established itself well over the years.

Scaling the Startup Garage globally.

With Startup Garage 2.0, dedicated startup leads were introduced across business units, expanding collaboration beyond development. The launch of the Tech Office in South Korea marked the start of a growing global footprint, later extended to Israel, China and Japan.

Expanding presence and recognition.

In 2019, the BMW Group Startup Garage strengthened its global footprint with the launch of the Tech Office for the Americas in Mountain View. At the same time, the Startup Garage office in Garching / Munich received the Red Dot Design Award for its outstanding workspace design. Through intensified scouting activities, more than 1,000 startups were evaluated, reinforcing the program’s role as a gateway to emerging innovation worldwide.

360 Degree Sustainability Challenge.

We launched the "360 Degree Sustainability Challenge", to achieve our goal to increase our sustainability impact in the automotive sector. The winners were able to present their products at BMW booth at IAA.

First startup integrates into BMW Group’s Production Department.

The startup Embotech successfully completed the pilot project and has now been rolled out into the production process of the BMW Group.

First startup solution implemented in BMW vehicles.

The startup AirConsole successfully completed the pilot project and was implemented in millions of BMW cars.

Executed 50 pilot projects in a single year.

We set a new benchmark by launching 50 pilot projects, involving 30 different departments, within a single year.

Scouted over 5000 startups.

Due to the expansion of the scouting program, we surpassed analyzing more than 5000 startups in the past ten years.

A glimpse into the BMW Group Startup Garage, a meeting place designed with lots of wood and metal.

Innovation Highlights

Wall of fame.

Over the past decade, we’ve partnered with visionary startups that turned pioneering ideas into measurable impact – creating lasting value and driving innovation across the BMW Group.