Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, a subsidiary of BMW, has been responsible for the brand’s automobiles since 1997. In 1998, Vickers, the owners of Rolls-Royce at the time, decided to sell the company. BMW, which already supplied engines and components for Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars, emerged as a likely buyer. However, Volkswagen outbid BMW with an offer of £430 million compared to BMW’s £340 million. In 2003, the Phantom was introduced as the first model from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited, debuting at the Detroit North American International Auto Show.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited is a British luxury automobile manufacturer established in 1998 as a fully owned subsidiary of German automotive giant BMW. The rights to the Rolls-Royce name, logo, Spirit of Ecstasy, and the trademark Rolls-Royce grille were acquired from Rolls-Royce plc and Volkswagen AG. Although the Rolls-Royce brand dates back to 1906, the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars division of BMW AG has no direct connection to the vehicles produced prior to 2003.
The company operates from its purpose-built facilities in Goodwood, West Sussex, England, which opened in 2003. The Rolls-Royce Phantom four-door sedan was the first product to be sold under this new subsidiary. Since then, the company has expanded its portfolio to include an extended-wheelbase version, as well as two-door coupe and convertible variants of the Phantom. The smaller Ghost four-door sedan, Wraith coupe, Dawn convertible, and Cullinan SUV are also part of the lineup. In India, the current offerings include the Phantom VIII, Cullinan, Dawn, Wraith, and new Ghost models.
