Started in Berlin in 1906 as a subsidiary of Henri Jeannin's automobile business, Argus Motoren company spun off entirely in November 1906.

They turned increasingly to the aviation market, and were widely used by 1910, receiving an order from Sikorsky for one of his large airplanes under construction in Russia.

During World War I Argus produced engines for the German army and air corps.

Although all were at the "low-power" end of the market by the start of World War II, they saw extensive use in training aircraft and other utility roles.

Argus provided also disc brakes, patented by Hermann Klaue (1912-2001), for the Arado Ar 96 landing gear and the Tiger I tank drive train.