German luxury carmaker BMW will throw a lavish 100th birthday party today, looking back at its often troubled history and forward as it seeks to adapt to the age of “personal mobility,” AFP reports.

In its home city of Munich, the iconic headquarters, a complex dubbed the “BMW four-cylinder”, towers as a source of pride while its vast plant, offices and museum are the southern city’s main private employer, with a total of 41,000 staff.

Since its World War I beginnings, the company has grown into a multinational giant with plants in 14 countries, more than 116,000 employees and 80 billion euros (S$121 billion) in annual sales.

BMW today makes cars and motorcycles and its brands also include Rolls-Royce and Mini.