The design of the four-seater BMW 600 was essentially based on the successful BMW Isetta bubble car. Like the Isetta's single-cylinder engine, the Boxer engine with a displacement of 600 cc had its roots in motorcycle construction. The power plant developed an output of 20 hp and had driving performance that was equivalent to other small cars of that era. The new chassis ensured good handling due to the modern semi-trailing arm rear axle, and the interior offered adequate space for the conditions prevailing at the time. However, these advantages were counteracted by the vehicle design that provided the front door and only incorporated one side door for the passengers seated in the rear. In this displacement segment, customers demanded "genuine" ("richtige") automobiles, which the competition were marketing in large numbers. Production was discontinued after about two years and some 34,813 examples had been manufactured.