West is a tobacco brand introduced on the German market in 1981. At first it was only sold in specialized tobacco shops. Since 1987 West cigarettes became available in supermarkets and cigarette machines.

As stated above West is a German cigarette brand currenly sold in over 90 countries all over the world. It is marketed in all EU countries except for UK. It is also known as the second strongest brand of cigarettes manufactured in Germany.

Currently the brand is owned by Imperial Tobacco, a British company. Imperial Tobacco is an international Tobacco Enterprise with headquarters in Bristol. It is the fourth largest tobacco company in the world measured in marketshare and holds the first place when it come to cigars, tobacco papers and fine-cut tobacco. It has over 51 factories in different countries of the world, produces over 320 billion cigarettes per annum and sells its products to 160 countries around the globe. Among its brands the main are Davidoff, Gauloises Blondes, Drum (fine-cut tobacco) and last but not least - West.

West is another brand renowned for its Formula One sponsorship. In 2007, however, a ban was placed by the European Union on tobacco advertising, terminating the brand's collaboration with F1.