Certain brands are widely regarded as elite standard bearers for their industry, such as Rolex in the wristwatch market and Apple in the mobile phone industry.

When it comes to quality cars, the first name that comes to mind is often BMW. The German manufacturer, which this year marked a century in existence, has a reputation which transcends motoring circles, having been named as the world’s most reputable company by Forbes in 2012.

Over the past 100 years, BMW has consistently evolved and sought to further extend the frontiers of automotive excellence. Despite its near-bulletproof brand image today, though, the company has had to graft through some scarily lean times, not least in the 1950s when liquidation seemed not so much a possibility as a near-inevitability. It managed to ride out the storm, though, and quickly regained its status as a powerhouse of the motoring industry. That success has continued to this day, with new records being set for global BMW sales every year since 2011.

In honour of its 100-year anniversary, Woodstock Motors http://www.woodstockmotors.co.uk/ produced this infographic charting the history of BMW and paying homage to some of its marquee models, including the pioneering Dixi of the late 1920s, the 507 of the mid-50s which nearly put the company out of business and the ultra-modern i8 plug-in hybrid. BMW enthusiasts, and indeed anyone with an interest in motoring, will enjoy this brilliantly summarised journey through time.