Rover – Rover Automotive Guide

In the beginning, Rover Company was known as Starley and Sutton Company which produced tricycles and bikes (with huge front wheel and small weensy back wheel) until 1888 when Starley and Sutton Company designed an electrical horseless carriage by means of all electric parts. This design was never used in production but was considered as a launching point for more developments.

This design was still being used on 99.9% of all bikes. After this, the company changed its name to Rover Cycle Company in 1901and then it started to design automobiles and motorcycles. The company continued to make developments and by the Second World War Rover became the class car for rich community.

During Second World War, British Government of that time decided to make use of domestic manufacturing companies and Rover was among these. After that, Shadow facilities were initiated and government paid for them although these facilities were supervised by civilians. Rover had two production facilities at that time. These factories were assigned the tasks to produce aircraft fighter engines and frames. In early 1940s, factories developed the gas turbine engine sample designs and its working prototype was built and tested in 1941. After that, Rolls-Royce took this charge of producing engines and Rover was given a lucrative tank engine contract

In 1950s, Rover successfully designed and manufactured its vehicles and produced first gas turbine car as well. Rover dramatically made improvements and designed Land Rover which became very popular and played a vital role in the augmentation of Rover’s income. In 1967, Rover worked together with Leyland Motors (which later became British Leyland). This partnership could not work well and Honda held Rover during 1980s. In 1994, BMW took over Rover and divided it into three parts, first was MINI which was maintained by BMW, second Land Rover was sold to Ford and third MG Rover was liquidated.

Then MG Rover Group stopped production in 2005 and vehicles were sold to the Chinese auto group Nanjing Automobile and it was decided to produce Rover again. Nanjing Automobile group then renamed everything to Roewe and Roewe is ramping up productions presently. On the other hand, Rover itself is for the most part gone. Ford has not decided to begin production of Rover and have successfully shut it down as a brand for good.