RollsRoyce

Rolls-Royce is a British multinational engineering company known for its aerospace propulsion systems and power solutions. The name traces to a 1904 partnership between engineer Henry Royce and automotive pioneer Charles Rolls, which led to Rolls-Royce Limited in 1906. The firm became a major producer of aircraft engines, advancing aero engine technology and expanding into marine and energy applications.

Rolls-Royce’s aero engine business became the core of its identity. The company developed several influential engine families, including mid- to high-thrust turbofans used on civil airliners and military aircraft. One notable chapter in its history involved the RB211, a wide-body engine that influenced many later designs. In the early 1970s the original Rolls-Royce Limited faced financial difficulties and was nationalized by the British government. The aerospace portion was reorganized as Rolls-Royce plc and later privatized again as part of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc, which today operates as a global power systems company.

Beyond propulsion, the Rolls-Royce name is also associated with the former Rolls-Royce Motors car division. After licensing and corporate restructuring in the 1990s, the automobile operation was sold to Volkswagen Group, and in 1998 BMW acquired the rights to the Rolls-Royce automobile brand. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited, a BMW subsidiary, produces luxury automobiles at the Goodwood plant in West Sussex, including models such as the Phantom, Ghost, and Cullinan.

Today, Rolls-Royce Holdings plc focuses on aerospace and power systems for civil, defense, marine, and energy sectors, while Rolls-Royce Motor Cars operates as a separate brand in the luxury automobile market.