Alpina officially becomes a sub-brand of the BMW Group

BMW Group has officially taken full ownership of the Alpina trademark (a Bavarian car maker) from 1 January 2026, marking the start of BMW ALPINA as a fully integrated, standalone luxury brand within the group. All new vehicles manufactured by BMW Alpina will now carry a signature BMW Alpina wordmark.

BMW’s Alpina acquisition

The start of 2026 marked the end of Alpina as an independent automobile manufacturer and the beginning of a new era under BMW control. BMW announced its intention to acquire Alpina in March 2022, but a cooperation agreement allowed Alpina to operate independently until 31 December 2025. On 1 January 2026, all trademark rights were officially transferred to BMW Group.

BMW Alpina now sits alongside BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce as a standalone luxury marque. It has moved from being an external partner to a fully integrated brand within the group.

The new brand identity now uses a new asymmetrical BMW Alpina wordmark, inspired by Alpina’s 1970s logo. It will be centred on the rear of future vehicles to highlight its standalone identity.

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What are BMW’s plans for Alpina?

BMW says the first priority is brand activation while reassuring long-time fans that Alpina’s core values will continue under the group’s ownership. BMW Alpina vehicles will continue meeting very high standards for materials, build quality, sound, and tactile feel. Buyers can choose from a wide range of bespoke options, ensuring each car has a unique character.

BMW has positioned BMW Alpina between the BMW 7 Series and Rolls-Royce, aiming to compete directly with Mercedes-Maybach. Future Alpina models will focus on BMW’s most luxurious vehicles, including the 7 Series, X7, and X8.

Moreover, all BMW Alpina vehicles will be built entirely on BMW production lines. Previously, cars were partially assembled by BMW and then sent to Buchloe for final hand-assembly by Alpina.

The first car model under the new Alpina sub-brand is expected to be the BMW Alpina B7, launching in late 2026. It will be based on the facelifted BMW 7 Series and carry the internal codename G72.

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What is the Alpina car brand known for?

Alpina cars are designed as high-speed long-distance cruisers, prioritising smooth power delivery and comfort. Their engines are heavily reworked for strong torque across a wide rev range, and suspensions are softer, often including a unique Comfort Plus mode. Comparatively, BMW’s M division car models focus on track-ready performance, aggressive handling, stiff chassis and sharp driver feedback.

Alpina was founded by Burkard Bovensiepen (1936–2023) in Kaufbeuren, Bavaria, Germany and evolved from a family typewriter business into a respected car manufacturer. For over 60 years, it worked closely with BMW and is officially recognised as an independent manufacturer by the German Ministry of Transport.

Most widely-known Alpina nameplates are Alpina XB7 (flagship ultra-luxury SUV), Alpina B3 GT (sedan and touring), Alpina B8 GT (Gran Coupe), and Alpina B4 GT (Gran Coupe).