By Iruni Kalupahana, JadeTimes News
Origins and Rise
It was at first a manufacturer of luxury automobiles, founded by Frederick Henry Royce and Charles Stewart Rolls at the beginning of the 20th century. Their collaboration led to the formation of the company Rolls Royce Ltd. in 1906 and the launching of the famous "40/50 hp" automobile, later called the Silver Ghost. It was known for excellence: the Silver Ghost and later the Phantom series, the Silver Cloud placed it as the pinnacle of luxury. The takeover of Bentley Motors Ltd. in 1931 reinforced this status. Again, in 1971, after dividing between its car and aerospace divisions, Rolls Royce retained the number one spot in luxury cars.
Historical Innovations and Expansion
From making customized cars and providing only the chassis and engines, with the coachbuilding being done by various private coachbuilders, Rolls Royce achieved a new level of class in the industry, associated with luxury and tradition. Classic models, such as that of the Silver Shadow, solidified them in the automobile industry as masters of cutting edge engineering feats. This came to acquire Bentley in 1931, effectively fusing the best elements of each company. Eventually coming under the umbrella of BMW, Rolls Royce continued its reputation of excellence, with cars such as the Phantom and Ghost marrying the finest traditions of craftsmanship with state of the art technology.
Technology Management and Development Framework
Being the leading company in engineering and innovation, Rolls Royce developed an appropriate technology management framework. It ranges from new technology planning, tools, evaluation of the effectiveness of the tools to integrating those tools into major functions. Advanced facilities and technology systems translate into improved internal research and development and collaboration that enable Rolls Royce to sustain their quality and performance in aerospace, marine, and automotive industries.
Continued Excellence
Even though its car division was separated from the aerospace operations in 1971, Rolls Royce continued its tradition of creating high end cars. It wasn't until 1998 that the car manufacturing operations were taken over by Volkswagen, and BMW took control over the rights to the name of Rolls Royce. Once again, leading the brand, there have been new models under its helm: Phantom, Ghost, and Cullinan. Each combines traditional craftsmanship with modern technology, ensuring Rolls Royce cars remain among the most prestigious in the world today.
Where Timeless Luxury Meets
