Bentley History . . .

[i_rebel]

Isn't it true that Bentley and Rolls are now completely seperate and under seperate back office ownership?

I believe one is owned by Ford, and the other by VW . . . that sound about right?

Anybody . . . ?

[Chris]

Nope. Bently is owned by VW, rolls by BMW. I think they are still working together, but in 2003, they change over. That is when BMW gets to have any control over Rolls, until then its volkswagen (volkswagon???).

[Hudson]

Here's what happened.

When Vickers Plc decided to sell Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, the company who produced Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars, they were in discussions with BMW. The reason BMW was the lead bidder on the company was their relationship with Rolls-Royce Plc, a completely separate company.

Let's go back to the early 1970s. Rolls-Royce was in bad financial shape. The company was split up into car making units (Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Ltd.) and aerospace (Rolls-Royce Plc). Rolls-Royce Motor Cars was given rights to the Rolls-Royce cars and Bentley cars, but Rolls-Royce Plc owned the rights to the radiator shell and the "Spirit of Ecstacy" mascot. The car company was given a free license to use the two symbols of Rolls-Royce as long as the company stayed in British hands.

Back to 1998, BMW had a working arrangement with Rolls-Royce Plc making aircraft engines. BMW wanted to take over the car company and the aerospace unit didn't have much of a problem with their "partner" having ownership. At the last minute, Volkswagen stepped in.

VW, more specifically Ferdinand Piech, had a rivalry with BMW. While Piech was building this empire, he couldn't let BMW just take the crown jewel of luxury car brands. VW offered an enourmous $770 million for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. And they won the bidding.

Either Piech didn't do his research, or he assumed wrong. Either way, Rolls-Royce Plc didn't want to just give the rights of the company symbols to VW. BMW came to Rolls-Royce Plc and made a deal where they would gain the license to the symbols for a tiny sum (in the low 8-figure range).

BMW, in effect, owned Rolls-Royce for (about)$40 million and VW bought Bentley for around $770 million. As part of the deal the two companies worked out, VW would continue to build the Rolls-Royce models in the Crewe factory and market the brand through December 31, 2002, while BMW would supply them with crucial components, not the least of which was the engine.

As of January 1, 2003, VW will own Bentley and the Crewe plant. BMW, at that time, will begin marketing their own Rolls-Royce models built in a new plant, currently under construction in England.

Good enough?

[Chris]

I got the story this way:

VW bought the radiator shell and mascot, BMW got the name.

WHose right, whose wrong?

[Hudson]

The story is as I presented it. Bentley is owned by Volkswagen. Rolls-Royce logos and name are owned by Rolls-Royce Plc, but BMW purchased a license for it. As of January 1, 2003, BMW will begin producing Rolls-Royces in a new factory.

[Chris]

I will (maybe) look in my mags to see what they said, so until then, I wont believe anything (other than the fact that I am gorgeous)

[Hudson]

Chris:

Please look it up. I try not to spread falsehoods about things automotive. I do know this area.

[Chris]

Will look up tonight, post tomorrow.