Rover - History
James Starley born in Alburne (GB) in 1830, was originally sewing machine manufacturer. He started with the production of bicycles in Coventry in 1868. His Coventry Chair was known, practically a bathroom chair with
pedals. His nephew, John Kemp Starley invented in 1886 the Starley Safety Bicycle. It was the move away from the penny-farthing, because he installed a chain drive with transmission for the rear axle. This bike was a
milestone and copied around the world. It continued to develop to the motorcycle in 1902. It had a good reputation and won many races.
Starkey worked on the first electric car in 1888. 1904 it has been tested with 8 mph in Deauville (F), because in the UK were allowed only 4 mph. In 1896, the company has been renamed to Rover Cycle Company and thus
became the largest bicycle company in Coventry. After the death of Starley in 1901, Jack Starley Jr., Harry Swithh and Frank Ward took over the company.
Edmund Lewis changed from Daimler to Rover in 1903. Under his leadership, the development of automobiles was successfully advanced, so that a 20 HP won the Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man. The profits of the
company continuously increased since 1911. During the first World War I Rover got not like other firms orders for the war economy. Instead one has set e.g. ambulance bodies on the Sunbeam 12/16 chassis.
After the war, the company has resumed the automotive engineering. In the early 20s, however, Rover lost its identity, also lost wealthy clients and it produced fewer cars than at the beginning. Due to the global economic
crisis were produced no more bikes and motorcycles from 1923.
At Rover was altered course by Sir Alfred Mays Swithh from 1930. The cars no longer looked like large railway compartments and must be driven by a chauffeur, but like small Rolls Royce. By 1939, Rover built 11,000 cars
per year. Then the car production was shut down. From 1940 one build aircraft engines in the Coventry factory. In the same year, however, the plant was destroyed by German bombers.
After the Second World War, steel was rationed and destined for export only to get the necessary foreign exchange to the country. Built from 1947, the Land Rover promised to become a major export hit one to two years later.
It was not to surpass in simplicity in external design, but mainly made of aluminum sheet. Every a bit manual talented could replace these metal sheets.
From 1948, cars were then again built for the well-heeled middle class, the Rover 60 and 75. Was the focus for Rover at the time: safety, a car for understatement, not too noticeable comfort, quiet and a good, solid
workmanship. 1967 Rover slipped under the umbrella of British Leyland (inter alia Jaguar, Austin, Triumph). From this time it also went down with the British car industry. Symptomatic of this is the poor quality of the Rover
SD1. Only the models Land Rover and Range Rover were still sold well.
After its collapse and the nationalization of British Leyland, Honda acquired a 20% stake at Rover in 1976. It have been built Rover 400 and 600. In the UK one has privatized during the reign of Margaret Thatcher again many
formerly nationalized companies and BMW bought Rover. Honda gave up his plans for further cooperation. BMW has put a lot of money into the company, but the cooperation did not work well. The newly developed Rover 75
e.g. was not particularly successful.
In 2000, BMW decided to sell Land Rover to Ford. The Mini, developed by Rover, one retains. The other parts of the Rover Group, are taken from the Phoenix Venture Group. Although Rover can use the traditional name 'MG'
for its sporty cars, the company will fail all efforts again to lead to profitability. 2005 one declares insolvency. The assets go to the Chinese Nanjing Automobile Corporation. Since 2006, Ford has the rights to the name
'Rover' and Tata Motors (India) to the brand.
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