Rolls-Royce
This article covers the main companies using the Rolls-Royce name. For a complete list, see Rolls-Royce (disambiguation).Rolls-Royce is a name originally used by the
British car and aero-engine manufacturing company,
Rolls-Royce Limited, founded by
Henry Royce and
C.S. Rolls in 1906, as well as several companies descended from it. It is also the name of a current company licensed to sell Rolls-Royce branded automobiles. The main companies are:
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Rolls-Royce plc, created by privatisation in 1987, the second-largest aircraft engine maker in the world. The company has related businesses in defence, marine and energy markets.
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Rolls-Royce Motors, split off from Rolls-Royce Limited in 1973, was the continuation of the original Rolls-Royce automobile division. Since 1998 the company has been owned by the
Volkswagen Group, but production of Rolls-Royce branded automobiles ceased in 2002.
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Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, a new manufacturer of luxury automobiles, owned by
BMW, which started deliveries of Rolls-Royce branded automobiles in 2003.