Which company acquired Bentley Motors in 1931?

Rolls-Royce Limited acquired Bentley Motors in 1931.

Bentley had established a strong reputation for performance and racing, but financial problems during the early 1930s led to its sale. Rolls-Royce Limited purchased the company and its assets through a subsidiary, preserving the Bentley name while bringing its engineering and production under Rolls-Royce control.

The acquisition did not immediately make Bentley and Rolls-Royce identical marques. Bentley cars continued to emphasize sporting character, while Rolls-Royce focused more strongly on formal luxury and refinement. However, some later Bentley and Rolls-Royce models shared engineering and production resources.

A common source of confusion is the modern ownership history. Volkswagen Group acquired Bentley Motors in 1998, while BMW obtained the Rolls-Royce automotive marque and created the present Rolls-Royce Motor Cars company. Those later transactions are separate from Rolls-Royce Limited’s 1931 acquisition.