Instead of building a scooter, BMW in Munich opted for an affordable small car for newcomers to motorcycle riding. The Isetta was designed by Iso Rivolta in Milan. BMW took a license and installed its own 250 and 300 cc motorcycle engine instead of the Iso two-stroke engine.
In 1954, the Isa company in Bresso near Milan (Italy) surprised the world with an egg-shaped scooter car whose passengers entered through a front door. BMW acted quickly and built the small vehicle, dubbed the "Isetta," under license starting in 1955. While the Italian Isetta was powered by a two-stroke engine, BMW installed its own four-stroke engine from the 250cc BMW motorcycle.
