Rolls-Royce Limited was incorporated in 1906.
The company followed the partnership formed by Charles Rolls and Henry Royce after their first meeting in 1904. Royce had already built cars in Manchester, while Rolls was a motor dealer and promoter. Their agreement combined Royce’s engineering with Rolls’s sales network and reputation.
The Rolls-Royce name quickly became associated with refined, dependable automobiles. The company’s early success was strengthened by the six-cylinder 40/50 hp, later famous as the Silver Ghost. Rolls-Royce Limited also expanded into aircraft-engine production during the First World War.
The incorporation date is different from several nearby milestones. The partnership began in 1904, the first Rolls-Royce cars appeared in 1904, and the company’s Manchester factory opened in 1908. These dates are sometimes confused when the company’s origin is summarized.