Rolls-Royce

The brand was founded in 1904 through a partnership between Henry Royce, an engineer, and Charles Rolls, one of Britain's first car dealers. Their first collaboration, the Silver Ghost launched in 1906, was famously dubbed 'the best car in the world,' setting a standard for reliability and refinement that would define the company for over a century. In 1931, the company acquired its rival Bentley, and for decades, the two brands shared many mechanical components while maintaining distinct market positions. The mid-20th century was a period of both prestige and challenge. While Rolls-Royce remained the choice of royalty and celebrities, the parent company, Rolls-Royce Limited, faced severe financial distress in the early 1970s due to the development costs of the RB211 jet engine. This led to the company's nationalization by the British government in 1971. The car division was later de-merged and privatized as Rolls-Royce Motors in 1980, eventually falling under the ownership of Vickers PLC. A pivotal moment occurred in 1998 when Vickers decided to sell the car business. This sparked a complex bidding war between Volkswagen and BMW. While Volkswagen initially appeared to win by purchasing the Crewe factory and the Bentley brand, a trademark quirk meant that the rights to the Rolls-Royce name and logo remained with the aero-engine firm, Rolls-Royce plc, which preferred to license them to BMW. A deal was reached where BMW would take control of the Rolls-Royce brand, while Volkswagen kept Bentley and the historic Crewe plant. Under BMW ownership, a brand-new manufacturing facility and headquarters were established at Goodwood, West Sussex. The first 'Goodwood-era' car, the Phantom VII, was launched on January 1, 2003, marking a successful rebirth of the marque. Since then, the company has expanded its portfolio to include the Ghost, the Cullinan SUV, and its first fully electric vehicle, the Spectre, while maintaining its commitment to hand-built quality and the 'Architecture of Luxury' platform.