Rolls-Royce has set the standard by which all other luxury carmakers are judged. Its vehicles are opulent and pricey, which makes them the ideal ride of the rich and famous. Charles Rolls and Henry Royce formally established Rolls-Royce in 1906. The company's 6-cylinder Silver Ghost was unveiled that same year. By 1914 the company was well-established in America. At that time, Rolls-Royce began manufacturing airplane engines; the company still manufactures jet engines to this day. In 1998 Volkswagen AG purchased Rolls-Royce; however, around the same time, BMW purchased the rights to the Rolls-Royce name. VW built Roll-Royce vehicles through 2002, but starting on Jan. 1, 2003, BMW began building them, ending Rolls’ 70-year partnership with Bentley.
