With all due respect Volkswagen has been extremely generous at a time when it could have become overly litigious. Joint property has already begun to be divided amicably. Of particular note, VW held rights to the Rolls-Royce trademark radiator design, as well as the 'Flying Lady' hood ornament. Whether or not shaking hands and allowing bygones to be bygones was due to Volkswagen's inherent good nature or possibly because automotive enthusiasts the world over would have smeared VW's good name if were found responsible for interfering with the progress of one of the globes most revered automotive icons, is beside the point. The fact is that VW moved over and allowed BMW use of the grille and hood ornament without enmity.
Volkswagen AG, Bentley Motor's new owner, is left with the Crewe, England manufacturing plant after 56 years of joint Rolls-Royce - Bentley construction. That's just a little too ironic considering it was Rolls-Royce who adopted the financially orphaned Bentley in 1932 and subsequently moved production to Crewe in 1946. Even harder to swallow for the British than simple irony, is the bitter fact that these prestigious marques are no longer owned by Her Majesty's servants, accept via third party paper. That said when opportunity knocked no British contingent came to bid when then parent company Vickers put the brands up for sale. VW bought the lot without realizing it hadn't acquired the right to use Rolls-Royce branding from the separately owned aerospace company of the same name. To be clear a little history is necessary. After Rolls-Royce suffered major losses following the commercial failure of its RB211 jet engine, a British government bailout split aircraft and automotive divisions leaving the Rolls-Royce trademark with Rolls-Royce PLC, the aircraft engine maker. Along came BMW, who just happens to share a partnership in aero-engine manufacturing with Rolls-Royce PLC, and scooped the rights to the auto manufacturer's name for the paltry sum of around $93,000 CAN. If anyone ever tells you getting ahead has nothing to do with who you know, they're either lying or just plain stupid.