Leyland

Leyland Motors Limited was a British vehicle manufacturer that specialized in lorries, buses, and trolleybuses. The company diversified into car manufacturing with the acquisitions of Triumph and Rover in 1960 and 1967, respectively. The Leyland Motor Corporation merged with British Motor Holdings to form British Leyland in 1968, which was later renamed BL and then Rover Group. After the various businesses of BL went defunct or were divested, the marques that survived include Jaguar and Land Rover (owned by Tata Motors), MG (built by MG Motor), and Mini (built by BMW). The truck building operation of Leyland Motors survived as Leyland Trucks, a subsidiary of Paccar.

Leyland Motors was founded in 1896 as the Lancashire Steam Motor Company, and produced its first vehicle, a steam-powered van, in 1901. The company diversified into petrol-engined wagons by 1905 and was renamed Leyland Motors in 1907. During World War II, Leyland Motors produced tanks and military trucks. After the war, the company continued military manufacture and acquired other companies, including Albion Motors and Standard-Triumph International Limited. Leyland Motors also formed British United Traction to build trolleybuses in collaboration with AEC. The Spurrier family controlled the company until 1964, successfully guiding its growth during the postwar years. Leyland Motors diversified into car manufacturing with its acquisitions of Triumph and Rover in 1960 and 1967, respectively. In 1968, Leyland Motors merged with British Motor Holdings to become British Leyland, which later changed its name to simply BL, and then to Rover Group in 1986.