A brand name dating to 1906, a 1998 split between BMW and Volkswagen, and a current range led by the Phantom and the electric Spectre.
Rolls-Royce is a British marque now owned by BMW since 2003. Its Goodwood plant in West Sussex builds the Phantom, Ghost, Cullinan and the electric Spectre. The brand name has been in use since 1906, and record sales reached 6,032 cars in 2023.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is a British luxury car maker, and BMW has held it outright since 2003. It builds Rolls-Royce-badged cars at a plant in Goodwood, West Sussex, and its range currently runs from the Phantom and Ghost saloons to the Cullinan SUV and the electric Spectre. The name itself has been in use since 1906.
When did the Rolls-Royce name first appear on cars?
The Rolls-Royce brand name has been in use since 1906. Cars carried the marque under Rolls-Royce Limited until 1973, and from 1973 until 2003 the same badge was used by Rolls-Royce Motors. The brand's early history is the subject of The Rolls-Royce Men, a book about the two founders, Charles Rolls and Henry Royce.
The gap between those two periods and the present company matters for anyone reading the marque's record. BMW's Rolls-Royce Motor Cars arm has no direct link to Rolls-Royce-badged cars built before 2003. Its only earlier role was supplying some components and engines for a short period.
The company's modern line-up therefore starts in 2003, when the BMW-controlled entity began building cars under the Rolls-Royce name in its own right. Everything before that date belongs to earlier companies, each with its own plants, designs and owners.
A name in use since 1906 now sits on an electric coupe built at a West Sussex plant.
Who owns Rolls-Royce today?
BMW AG has held Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited outright since 2003, and the company is the sole maker of Rolls-Royce-badged cars. The company's administrative and production headquarters are at the Goodwood plant, which covers 42 acres (17 ha).
Volkswagen's Bentley Motors Limited succeeded Rolls-Royce Motors, along with the earlier companies that built Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars before 2003. That split is the reason two British marques with the same heritage ended up under different German owners.
The company's status as a BMW subsidiary has shaped its engineering too. BMW supplied engines and components to the brand for years, and the Phantom's first engine was a 6.75 L V12 sourced from BMW, even though most of the car's components were unique to it.
How did BMW and Volkswagen divide the brand in 1998?
In 1998 Vickers decided to sell Rolls-Royce Motors. BMW made a final offer of 340 million pounds, but Volkswagen's bid of 430 million pounds, equal to $703 million, won the automotive business. The brand name and logo, however, stayed with Rolls-Royce plc.
A stipulation in the ownership documents meant Rolls-Royce Holdings plc, the aero-engine maker, kept certain essential trademarks, including the brand name and logo. Rolls-Royce plc licensed the name and logo to BMW for 40 million pounds, partly because it had recently run joint business ventures with the German group.
BMW's engine supply contract with Rolls-Royce Motors allowed BMW to cancel it with 12 months' notice. Volkswagen could not re-engineer the cars to use other engines in that time, so the two companies negotiated. Volkswagen agreed to transfer the Spirit of Ecstasy and grille shape marks to BMW, while BMW kept supplying engines and components until 2003.
Volkswagen continued producing Rolls-Royce-badged vehicles between 1998 and 2003. That period gave BMW time to build a new headquarters and production facility on the Goodwood Estate, and to prepare the Phantom for market. From 2003 the BMW-owned company was the only maker of Rolls-Royce-badged cars.
Where are Rolls-Royce cars built?
Rolls-Royce cars are built at the Goodwood plant, a 42-acre (17 ha) site close to Goodwood Estate in West Sussex, England. The plant is the company's administrative and production headquarters, and it was built by BMW after the 1998 settlement gave the German group its own factory space.
The first Phantom was assembled in a new factory at Goodwood, where leatherwork, woodwork and finishing were also carried out. Parts for the car came from Continental Europe and the UK, so the plant worked as the final stage of a wider supply chain.
In September 2014 Rolls-Royce announced that a new technology and logistics centre would be built. It opened in 2016, 8 miles from the main headquarters, in the seaside resort town of Bognor Regis, and it gave the company a second site on the South Coast.
Who has led Rolls-Royce in recent years?
Ian Robertson was chief executive from 2005 to 2008, and Thomas Purves followed from 2008 to 2010. Torsten Muller-Otvos then joined in January 2010, pledging to regain the quality standards that made Rolls-Royce famous, and he held the role for 14 years.
Muller-Otvos's first year coincided with strong growth in China, where sales rose 600% in 2010. That made China the company's second largest market after the US.
On 5 October 2023 the company announced that Muller-Otvos would retire on 30 November. He was the longest-serving CEO to date, and his successor, Chris Brownridge, the former CEO of BMW UK, took over on 1 December 2023.
How did the first Phantom start the modern Rolls-Royce?
The first Phantom launched in January 2003 at the Detroit auto show, and it was the first model from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited. Its 6.75 L V12 came from BMW, but the rest of the car was largely unique, with its own parts, assembly and finishing in the new Goodwood factory.
The first generation was offered as a standard saloon and an extended wheelbase car, which was 250 mm longer than the standard model. A facelift arrived for the 2013 model year, and the Phantom continued in production until 2016 as a saloon, with a convertible and a coupe alongside it.
The current Phantom is the top-of-the-line four-door saloon and the flagship of the range. It is the most expensive production car Rolls-Royce makes, and it is offered in two lengths as of January 2025, with the extended version adding 200 mm for rear passengers.
The extended Phantom is the longest sedan currently in production. The Series II facelift was revealed on 12 May 2022 with subtle exterior changes and four additional wheel options.
What is the Ghost and how does it differ from the Phantom?
The Ghost is the smaller four-door saloon in the Rolls-Royce range, and it is offered in two lengths. The second-generation Ghost was unveiled on 1 September 2020 as the company's entry model, positioned below the Phantom in the line-up.
An extended wheelbase version of the Ghost adds 160 mm of length for rear occupants, which is less than the 200 mm added to the extended Phantom. The Series II facelift was unveiled on 10 August 2024, with subtle exterior changes, most noticeably at the taillights.
The first-generation Ghost was announced in September 2006 as a new four-door model smaller than the Phantom. Only 20% of its components were sourced from the BMW 7 Series F01, and a Series II version was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show on 4 March 2014 with a new front and LED headlights.
What is the Cullinan SUV?
The Cullinan is a five-door SUV that Rolls-Royce revealed in early 2018 after much anticipation. It shares the Architecture of Luxury platform and many components with the Phantom, which gave the company a sport utility vehicle built on its flagship engineering.
The Cullinan received a facelift that was unveiled on 5 July 2024, and it remains the brand's larger, higher-riding model. The SUV sits in a different body style from the saloons, but it uses the same luxury platform as the flagship.
What is the Spectre and why does it matter?
The Spectre coupe was revealed on 18 October 2022. It is Rolls-Royce's first all-electric car, and it is also the most aerodynamic model the company has built. It is positioned between the Cullinan and the Phantom in the range, which places it between the SUV and the flagship saloon.
The Spectre introduces a redesigned Spirit of Ecstasy, with one leg forward, a lower and more powerful stance, and more aerodynamic robes that are often mistaken for wings. The figure's new pose is a visible sign of the car's electric character.
The Spectre also gives the brand its first electric model, and its aerodynamic shape sets it apart from the rest of the range. The redesigned figure is one of the clearest visual changes the company has made to its best-known emblem.
What happened to the Dawn and Wraith?
The Dawn was a four-seater convertible built from 2015 to 2023. It was announced in time for the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show, and it sat in the range as the open-top member of the company's family of luxury cars, alongside the Phantom Drophead Coupe, which was built from 2007 to 2016.
The Wraith was a coupe built from 2013 to 2022, and it was a coupe version of the Ghost. Rolls-Royce launched it at the Geneva Motor Show on 5 March 2013, naming it after the original Wraith built from 1938 to 1939. Its long bonnet and sleek roof line gave it a sporting profile.
The Wraith was powered by a 623 bhp twin-turbocharged V12 with an eight-speed gearbox. It was the fastest car made by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars to that date, and the company said it would be the most powerful Rolls-Royce motor car to that point. Deliveries were expected to begin by the end of 2013.
The Phantom Coupe, built from 2008 to 2016, completed the coupe and convertible versions of the flagship saloon during that period. Together these cars showed how the marque widened its range beyond the four-door saloon in the years before the Spectre arrived.
What concept cars and coachbuilt projects has Rolls-Royce made?
The concept list runs from the 100EX and 101EX, both dating from 2006, through the Hyperion of 2008, which was known as the Pininfarina Hyperion. Other concepts include a Rolls-Royce Mini from June 2009, the 200EX of 2009, also known as RR04, and the 102EX of 2010 and 103EX of 2016.
The Sweptail was a one-off custom Phantom Coupe that took a 4-year build and fetched $12.8 million, the highest price paid for a new car at that point. The Boat Tail of 2021 was a custom concept based on the Sweptail, with production limited to three vehicles.
The Droptail of 2023 is the latest coachbuilt project, with production limited to four models. Project Nightingale from 2026 is the first series of models from the Coachbuild Collection, and production is limited to 100 cars.
How well has Rolls-Royce sold?
The company's best year on record came in 2023, with 6,032 cars sold and a new high beating the 2022 figure. The record came more than a decade after China sales rose 600% in 2010.
China's growth in 2010, with sales up 600%, made the market the company's second largest after the US. The 2023 record shows how far the brand has come in the years since Muller-Otvos joined and set out to rebuild its quality reputation.
How has Rolls-Royce supported charity?
In 2014 the company designed a silver Rolls-Royce-themed Paddington Bear statue called The Spirit of Paddington. It stood in Berkeley Square Gardens, one of fifty statues around London before the release of the film Paddington, and it was auctioned to raise funds for the NSPCC.
The project is a small example of how the marque uses its visibility to support causes beyond the car business. It also reflects the brand's wider reach, which the company has built over more than a century.
Why is the Rolls-Royce name so widely recognised?
The BBC has described Rolls-Royce as a globally recognised icon, and it has said the name became an English superlative. That reputation rests on more than a century of use, from the 1906 brand name to the cars the company builds at Goodwood today.
The company's trademarks, including the Spirit of Ecstasy figure and the grille shape, were among the assets divided in the 1998 settlement between BMW and Volkswagen.
What are the key Rolls-Royce models and figures?
The table below lists the main models with their period on sale, a defining engine or design figure, and the role each car plays in the range. Dates follow the company's own release and production periods, so the first generation and current models are shown separately.
| Model | Period | Defining figure | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phantom (first generation) | 2003 to 2016 | 6.75 L V12 from BMW | First model from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited |
| Ghost (first generation) | 2010 to 2020 | 20% of components from the BMW 7 Series F01 | Smaller four-door saloon below the Phantom |
| Dawn | 2015 to 2023 | Four-seater convertible | Open-top model |
| Wraith | 2013 to 2022 | 623 bhp twin-turbocharged V12 | Coupe version of the Ghost |
| Cullinan | From early 2018 | Five-door SUV | Sport utility vehicle on the Architecture of Luxury platform |
| Ghost (second generation) | From 1 September 2020 | Extended wheelbase adds 160 mm | Entry model |
| Phantom (current) | Two lengths as of January 2025 | Extended version adds 200 mm | Flagship, most expensive production car |
| Spectre | Revealed 18 October 2022 | First all-electric car | Coupe between the Cullinan and the Phantom |
Frequently asked questions
How many cars did the brand sell in its best year?
The best year on record is 2023, when 6,032 cars were sold. That figure beat the previous record set in 2022, and it is the company's highest annual total so far.
What is the Spirit of Paddington?
It was a silver Paddington Bear statue designed by the company in 2014. One of fifty statues placed around London, it was later auctioned to raise money for the NSPCC.
How long was Muller-Otvos in charge?
He joined in January 2010 and was chief executive for 14 years before retiring at the end of November 2023. His record makes him the longest-serving head of the company to date.
How much did the Sweptail sell for?
The Sweptail, a bespoke Phantom Coupe, sold for $12.8 million. It took a 4-year build, and it remains the most expensive new car sold up to that point.
