 | |
| Type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | March 1998 (Predecessor: Rolls-Royce Limited 1904) |
| Founder(s) | Henry Royce Charles Stewart Rolls |
| Headquarters | Goodwood, United Kingdom |
| Key people | Ian Robertson (Chairman) Torsten Müller-Ötvös (CEO) |
| Products | Automobiles |
| Revenue | £321.5 million (2010) |
| Employees | 743 (2010) |
| Parent | BMW |
| Website | www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com |
through Rolls-Royce Limited and Rolls-Royce Motors.
History
[edit] Predecessors
The history of Rolls-Royce began as Rolls-Royce Limited which started manufacturing cars in 1903. The factory at Goodwood is the fifth Rolls-Royce UK based automobile production facility since 1904. The previous four were located in Manchester, London, Derby, and Crewe.[edit] BMW ownership of Rolls-Royce marque
In 1998, owners Vickers decided to sell Rolls-Royce Motors. The most likely buyer was BMW, who already supplied engines and other components for Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars, but BMW's final offer of £340m was beaten by Volkswagen's £430m.A stipulation in the ownership documents of Rolls-Royce dictated that Rolls-Royce plc, the aero-engine maker would retain certain essential trademarks (the Rolls-Royce name and logo) if the automotive division was sold. Rolls-Royce plc chose to license not to VW but to BMW, with whom it had recently had joint business ventures. VW had bought rights to the "Spirit of Ecstasy" bonnet (hood) ornament and the shape of the radiator grille, but it lacked rights to the Rolls-Royce name necessary to build the cars. Likewise, BMW lacked rights to the grille and mascot. BMW bought an option on the trademarks, licensing the name and "RR" logo for £40m, a deal that many commentators thought was a bargain for possibly the most valuable property in the deal. VW claimed that it had only really wanted Bentley anyway, as Bentley at the time was the higher-volume brand and moved twice as many cars as Rolls-Royce.
The situation was tilted in BMW's favor, as they could withdraw their engine supply with just 12 months notice, which was insufficient time for VW to re-engineer the Rolls-Royce cars to use VW's own engines. BMW and VW arrived at a solution. From 1998 to 2002 BMW would continue to supply engines for the cars and would allow use of the names by VW, but this would cease on 1 January 2003. From that date, only BMW would be able to name cars "Rolls-Royce", and VW's former Rolls-Royce/Bentley division would build only cars called "Bentley." This resulted in 2003 BMW opening a new manufacturing plant on the Goodwood Estate close to Chichester, West Sussex.
[edit] Recent
In 2011, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars sold 3,538 cars, up 31 percent on the year before, dominated by Phantom and Ghost models sold, beating the previous record from 1978. The strong sales growth occurred in the Asia Pacific region by up 47 percent, followed by Britain with up 30 percent and Middle East sales up 23 percent.[1][edit] Cars
- 2003+ Phantom (saloon)—Launched in January 2003 at Detroit's North American International Auto Show, this is the first model from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited, a BMW Group subsidiary having no corporate connection with the previous Rolls-Royce Motors company apart from the trademarks mentioned above. The car has a 6.75 L V12 engine sourced from BMW, but most components are unique to the car. Parts are sourced from Continental Europe and the UK. Assembly, leather work, wood work, and finishing is carried out in a new factory in Goodwood near Chichester, Sussex. The cars are available in normal and extended wheelbase, and prices start at about £250,000.
- 2007+ Phantom Drophead Coupé (convertible)
- 2008+ Phantom Coupé (coupe)
- 2010+ Ghost (saloon)—Rolls Royce announced in September 2006 that it will develop a new four-door model named Ghost. The Ghost will be smaller than the previous Rolls Royce automobile launched, the Phantom. Only 20% of the components would be sourced from BMW F01 7 Series, and it will be positioned below the Phantom and with a price range between US$250,000 and US$280,000.[2]
[edit] Prototypes
- Rolls-Royce Mulliner Silver Dawn Drophead Coupé[3] (1953)
- Rolls-Royce 100EX (2006)
- Rolls-Royce 101EX (2006)
- Rolls-Royce Mansory Phantom Conquistador[4] (2008)
- Rolls-Royce Hyperion[5] (2008)
- Rolls-Royce Mini [6] (June 2009)
- Rolls-Royce 200EX (2009; known as ″RR04″ also)
- Rolls-Royce 102EX (2011)
[edit] Sales
The all time high record of sales was achieved in 2011, at 3,538 cars.[1]| Calendar Year | Total Sales |
|---|---|
| 1978 | 3,357 |
| 2005 [7] | 796 |
| 2006 [7] | 805 |
| 2007 [8] | 1,010 |
| 2008 [9] | 1,212 |
| 2009 [9] | 1,002 |
| 2010 [9] | 2,711 |
| 2011 [1] | 3,538 |
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