Does BMW own Rolls-Royce? Yes, if you mean the cars. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has been a wholly owned part of the BMW Group since 2003. Every new Rolls-Royce is designed and built at its home in Goodwood, West Sussex, in England.
The confusion comes from the name. Rolls-Royce plc, the company that makes jet engines and power systems, is a completely separate business. BMW doesn’t own it. The two share a history and a famous name, but not owners.
So how did a German group end up with Britain’s most famous luxury car brand? In 1998, Vickers sold Rolls-Royce Motors, which also included Bentley. Volkswagen bought the company and its factory in Crewe. BMW bought the rights to the Rolls-Royce name and logo. After a short shared period, BMW took over Rolls-Royce cars from January 2003, and Volkswagen kept Bentley.
BMW then built a new headquarters and factory at Goodwood. The first car from that plant was the Phantom, launched in 2003. Since then, the lineup has grown to include the Ghost, the Cullinan SUV and the electric Spectre.
Does BMW ownership show in the cars? In some places, yes. Rolls-Royce uses BMW Group engineering for parts like engines and electronics. The design, materials, and hand finishing come from Goodwood, though, and the cars feel nothing like a regular BMW from behind the wheel.
For buyers, the BMW link can help with parts supply and tech updates over time. It also means some service know-how carries over from BMW’s large engineering team. Shoppers who want to see a Rolls-Royce in person can start with Tampa Auto Gallery. The Tampa dealership works with Rolls-Royce buyers and explains how each model fits different needs.
