Eisenacher Motorenwerk

1952-1955 EMW 340, with a redesigned grille

One of the pre-World War II BMW factories was located in Eisenach, which after the war was taken over by the Soviets, since Eisenach was situated in the Soviet occupation zone. The factory continued producing cars and motorcycles under the BMW brand, but after a lawsuit in 1952 they had to change the name to EMW instead. The logotype was also similar, but instead of the blue BMW used, EMW used red.

The Kasernierte Volkspolizei (a paramilitary police branch which preceded the National People's Army) and the succeeding East German armed forces needed vehicles and expressed interest in reviving production of the BMW 325, an unsuccessful wartime off-road Einheits-PKW (standardized passenger vehicle) built by BMW in Eisenach. This was developed into the new EMW 325/3, of which 166 were built in 1952.[2] This remilitarization, however, was in violation of the terms of the Potsdam Conference and led to protests from the West.[3]

Later the automobile section of EMW became VEB Automobilwerk Eisenach and built the Wartburg. Motorcycle manufacture ended in the 1950s and was replaced by the AWO 425 built by Simson at Suhl.

An EMW. Note the BMW-like grille.

(key)

Year	Chassis	Engine	Tyres	Driver	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Points	WCC
1953	EMW R2	EMW L6	D		ARG	500	NED	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	SUI	ITA	n/a*	n/a*
				Edgar Barth							Ret
Source:[1]

* Constructors' Championship not awarded until 1958.