BL was created from the merger of many British car manufacturing companies. Many of these brands have since been divested and continue to exist to this day, although the British Leyland name came to an end in 1982. The most direct heir of the company is the current MG Rover Group.
The company became an infamous monument to the industrial turmoil that plagued Britain in the 1970s. At its peak, BL owned nearly 40 different manufacturing plants across the country. Rivalry between the individual marques which had previously been competitors prior to the merger resulted in a product range which was incoherent and full of duplication. This, combined with serious industrial relations problems (principally, the company's relations with hard_line SocialistTrade Unions of the time), and ineffectual management meant that BL became an unmanageable and financially crippled bethemoth whose bankruptcy in 1975 was inevitable.
British Leyland also produced commercial vehicles, light vans and agricultural tractors.
Timelines
Merged Companies
The car firms (and car brands) which eventually merged to form the company are as follows.
The dates given are those of the first car of each name, but these are often debatable as each car may be several years in development.
1968 Leyland merge with British Motor Holdings to form the British Leyland Motor Corporation
1975 Publication of the Ryder Report, British Leyland effectively nationalised due to financial difficulties, company changes its name to BL Ltd.
1977 Michael Edwardes appointed as Chairman by Labour Government. Begins massive cull of excess BL assets.
History of Divestments
1978 Land Rover separated from Rover to form a separate company still part of BL.
1979 Collaboration with Honda begins, sacking of Derek Robinson ("Red Robbo").
1978 Closure of Triumph assembly plant in Speke - Production moved to Canley.
1980 Closure of MG and Triumph assembly plants in Abingdon and Canley
1981 Closure of Rover-Triumph Plant in Solihull.
1981 Alvis sold to United Scientific Holdings
1982 Michael Edwardes steps down as Chairman, British Leyland renamed Austin Rover Group (ARG)
1984 Morris Ital goes out of production, signalling the end of the Morris badge
1984 Jaguar floated off (including Daimler and the US rights to Vanden Plas); bought by Ford in 1989
1986 Austin Rover renamed as Rover Group, Austin badges disappear the following year
1986 Leyland Trucks & Vans sold to DAF. Vans became independent LDV in 1993, and Trucks became Leyland Trucks also in 1993, is taken over by US giant PACCAR in 1998 and integrated with Foden.
1986 Leyland Bus floated off; bought by Volvo 1988
1987 Unipart, BL's spare parts division acquired by management buy-out
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The British Leyland Motor Corporation ("BLMC"), was a vehicle manufacturing company formed in the United Kingdom in 1968.
BLMC was created in 1968 by the merger of British Motor Holdings (BMH) and Leyland Motor Corporation (LMC), encouraged by the Wilson Labour Government (1964–1970).
The company became an infamous monument to the industrial turmoil that plagued Britain in the 1970s.
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