BBS Kraftfahrzeugtechnik AG (English: BBS Automotive Technology AG) is a high performance automobile wheel design company headquartered in Schiltach, Germany. BBS serves North America through BBS Of America located in Braselton, Georgia adjacent to the Road Atlanta Racetrak. BBS produces wheels for motosport, OEM, and aftermarket applications. The company employs approximately 1,200 employees worldwide (2007).[1] BBS trades on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Symbol: BKS3) with a market captialization of €8.15M[2]
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History
BBS Kraftfahrzeugtechnik AG began in 1970 in Schiltach Germany by Heinrich Baumgartner and Klaus Brand as a manufacturing plant for plastic auto body parts. The initials BBS are based on the last names of the two founders and the city in which the company was founded (Baumgartner, Brand, Schiltach). [3]
Technology
In 1972 BBS pioneered the development of a three-piece racing wheel, a revolution in motosport design. [3] Most recently BBS has engineered the Air Inside Technology (AIT) where hollow chambers are created within the wheel structure to compensate for the small air volume in modern ultra-low-profile tyres, reduce unsprung weight, improve handling dynamics, and increase fuel efficiency without sacrificing strength and rigidity. This innovation has earned BBS Kraftfahrzeugtechnik the Automechanika Innovation Award 2006 in the tuning segment. [4]
OEM applications
BBS has and continues to supply OEM wheel applications to a number of automobile brands. In street vehicles, their products can be seen on brands such as BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Ferrari, Maserati, Rolls Royce, Jaguar, and Volkswagen. In the past they have supplied wheels to Subaru. [3]
Lexus will soon be using BBS wheels in its IS-F, while the vehicle's Brembo brakes seem to be getting all the attention. The cross-spoke design (pictured), which superficially resembles a wire wheel, is extremely common on sports cars produced from the 1980s to the early 1990s, and is light in weight compared to many other styles. One of the most notable wheels of them all they have produced was the three piece RS, released in 1983 and would become a popular aftermarket features as well as being replicated by other manufacturers. Another wheel that has since become a popular design as well as being replicated by numerous companies is the RG, the company's first wheel produced, known as Rennsport, a competition use only wheel has been copied by Speed Star Racing for its Formula Mesh series. The company also supplies motorsports applications and is also the largest supplier of wheels for Indy Racing League Series and the main supplier of Formula One teams.[3]
References
- ^ Automotive Business Review Online. Retrieved on 2007-03-08
- ^ Yahoo! Finance UK. Retrieved on 2007-03-08
- ^ a b c d BBS Homepage. Retrieved on 2007-03-08
- ^ Automechanika Innovation Awards August 16, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-03-08
