Ever since Alpina, a small Bavarian car manufacturer born out of a tuning garage, started making road cars in 1983, they’ve been separate from BMW. This is an important distinction to make because, to the untrained eye, Alpina cars look identical to BMWs. And, to make things a little more confusing, you can buy and service Alpina cars from authorized BMW dealers.

Alpina’s tiny operation, where around 300 employees churn out up to 2,000 cars a year, produces high-end and mighty fast machines based on BMW’s most popular cars. It’s a relationship similar to that between auto artisans RUF and Porsche. However, that’s about to change: BMW has brought Alpina under its wing, meaning it’ll operate more like Maybach does with Mercedes-Benz. 

This has been a long time in the works. In 2022, BMW announced it had acquired Alpina, but it’s taken until now for the wheels of bureaucracy to really start turning, and on January 1, 2026, the Alpina trademark rights were finally transferred to BMW.

This is the year when BMW ALPINA, a new premium brand under the BMW Group umbrella, is born. The moment was marked with the unveiling of a new logo inspired by BMW branding from the 1970s, however, there are no BMW ALPINA cars to speak of (yet). BMW did offer some hints at what’s to come, though. 

The German carmaker promised that BMW ALPINA will include a “unique balance of maximum performance and superior ride comfort, combined with hallmark driving characteristics,” as well as “an exclusive portfolio of bespoke options and custom materials along with unmistakeable details.”

A press statement from the BMW Group (which also owns Mini and Rolls-Royce) was also sure to point out that this BMW ALPINA is an “exclusive brand” which’ll have an “independent personality.”

The proof, of course, will be in the final product. But it sounds like some of BMW’s most premium cars yet are about to be unveiled.