Lucas Industries plc
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Lucas Industries plc was a famous manufacturer of components for the motor industry and aerospace industry. It was based in Birmingham, England, and quoted on the London Stock Exchange.
Founded by Joseph Lucas, the company was best known for automotive electrical components such as alternators, windscreen wiper motors, starter motors etc. It later branched out into products such as hydraulic actuators and electronic engine control systems for the aerospace industry. Lucas Industries is often referred to as "Lucas - Prince of Darkness" because of the electrical problems common in Lucas-equipped cars, especially British Leyland products.
In 1976, the militant workforce at the company, facing layoffs, developed the Lucas Plan to convert the company from arms to the manufacture of socially useful products, and save jobs. The plan was not put into place but industrial action saved some jobs.
After a series of mergers and take-overs, the automotive side of Lucas were taken over by the American company TRW Automotive, and the Aerospace side is now owned by the American company Goodrich Corporation.
