Lucas Automotive

Lucas Automotive was a famous British manufacturer of automotive components for the motor industry.

History

The company based in King Street, Birmingham founded by Joseph Lucas and his son Harry in 1872 at first made general pressed metal merchandise including lamps for ships and coaches, later moving into oil and acetylene lamps for bicycles. In 1902, what was now Joseph Lucas Ltd started making automotive electrical components such as magnetos, alternators, windscreen wipers, horns, lighting, wiring and starter motors. The company started its main growth in 1914 with a contract to supply the Morris Motor Company with electrical equipment. During the First World War Lucas made shells and fuses as well as electrical equipment for military vehicles. After the war they expanded rapidly but not only by gaining new business - in 1926 they gained an exclusive contract with Austin - but also by swallowing up most of their British rivals.

Around 1930, Lucas and Smiths established a trading agreement to avoid competition in each others markets.

Lucas marketed its early headlights under the brand name "King of the Road". In the 1960s in the United States the legendary unreliability of Lucas electrics fitted to imported British cars such as MGs, Triumphs, Jaguars and Rovers led to the coining of the nickname - "Lord Lucas - Prince of Darkness". As such Lucas is the butt of many jokes, but the unreliability of Lucas electrics is overstated. The fact that many cars employing Lucas electrics are still on the road 30, 40, or more years after manufacture is proof of their durability. It is often said that the biggest problem that Lucas electrics suffer is that of previous "repairs" and "improvements" by unskilled car owners.

In the UK, Lucas had a substantial part of the market with its major competitor being AC-Delco (part of General Motors) from the late 1950s

Lucas Industries plc also owned the Girling, CAV diesel (from a pre-war agreement with Bosch), Simms, Crosland companies and acquired the Varity Corporation in 1996. After a series of disposals, the remains of Lucas merged in 1996 with the U.S. company Varity to become LucasVarity plc who were in 1999 taken over by the US automotive supplier TRW Inc.

External links

• history of Great King Street site
• History of Lucas contained in report by UK Competition Commission