Rolls-Royce Limited was a British car, and from 1914, aero-engine manufacturing company founded by Charles Stewart Rolls and Henry Royce on 15 March 1906 as the result of a partnership formed in 1904. In 1971, Rolls-Royce was crippled by the development of the advanced RB211 jet engine, resulting in the nationalisation of the company as Rolls-Royce (1972) Limited. In 1973, the car division was separated from the parent company as Rolls-Royce Motors. Rolls-Royce (1972) Limited continued as a nationalised company until it was privatised in 1987 as Rolls-Royce plc.

Source: Wikipedia