Rolls-Royce, synonymous with luxury, was founded in 1904 by Charles Rolls and Henry Royce. The company quickly rose to prominence with its 10 HP model and opened a U.S. plant in 1921. In 1931, it acquired Bentley, resulting in nearly identical models between the two brands. By 1946, Rolls-Royce began producing complete vehicles in-house in Crewe, catering to royalty and heads of state. Financial struggles in the 1970s led to a split between the car and aircraft divisions. After several ownership changes, BMW acquired the Rolls-Royce car brand in 2003, while Volkswagen retained Bentley and the Crewe factory.