Bedford Vehicles

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bedford Vehicles
Company typeDivision
IndustryAutomotive
Founded1931; 93 years ago (1931)
FounderVauxhall Motors
Defunct1986; 38 years ago (1986)
FateDivested into IBC Vehicles and AWD Trucks
SuccessorAWD Trucks
IBC Vehicles
Headquarters,
England
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsBus chassis
Military vehicles
Trucks
Light commercial vehicles
ParentVauxhall Motors

Bedford Vehicles, usually shortened to just Bedford, was a brand of vehicle produced by Vauxhall Motors. It was ultimately owned by General Motors (GM). The brand was established in 1930 and built commercial vehicles. Bedford Vehicles was a leading international lorry brand. It had substantial export sales of light, medium, and heavy lorries throughout the world. It was GM Europe's most profitable venture for several years.

Bedford's core heavy trucks business was sold off as AWD Ltd in 1987 but the Bedford brand continued to be used on light commercial vehicles and car-derived vans based on Vauxhall/Opel, Isuzu and Suzuki designs. The brand was retired in 1991. After this, GM Europe's light commercial vehicles were branded as either Vauxhall or Opel, depending on the market.