Rootes Australia was the Australian affiliate of the Rootes Group, a British motor vehicle manufacturing company.[1]
The company was formed immediately after the Second World War[1] initially operating as an importing and distribution firm.[2] In 1946, it began assembling Hillman Minx vehicles at Port Melbourne, Victoria.[3] This was the first instance of a British motor manufacturer establishing a production line in Australia.[4][5] By 1954, the company had gained a 5.4% share of the local market and subsequently announced plans to create a full local manufacturing facility.