Why BMW’s Engines Have Become the Secret Weapon for Carmakers Around the World

Toyota, Land Rover, Morgan, and Ineos don’t seem to have much in common at first glance. But pop the hood of any of their models and you’ll find a BMW engine humming inside. That’s by design. BMW has been quietly supplying its powertrains to smaller automakers for decades, helping them sidestep the enormous cost of developing their own engines from scratch.

The German automaker famously powered the McLaren F1 with a V12 in the 1990s, and since then, brands like Bentley, De Tomaso, and Wiesmann have all turned to BMW for reliable, emissions-compliant power.

Today, six brands, including BMW’s own Mini and Rolls-Royce, use BMW engines. 0-liter B58 inline-six powers the Ineos Grenadier and Morgan Plus Four. Land Rover has even gained access to BMW’s S63 V8, typically reserved for M cars, for its high-performance Range Rover Sport SV and Defender Octa.

Toyota co-developed the latest Supra with BMW, sharing the Z4’s platform and engine lineup, though the next-generation Supra will go its own way.

BMW’s role as an engine supplier isn’t just about selling parts, it’s about partnerships that let small manufacturers punch above their weight. S. and European emissions standards without building a powertrain from zero. S. under the FAST Act. As a BMW spokesperson put it, the company’s Technology Solutions division offers everything from combustion engines to hydrogen fuel cells and next-generation battery tech, ensuring even the smallest automakers can build cars that compete on a global stage.