With a history dating back to 1844, we are an independent, privately owned company which now trades as Arnolds Environmental Ltd reflecting both the main industry sectors where we operate and also our focus on delivering products and services with superior environmental performance

Established by Walter Arnold, the company was a pioneer in the manufacture of motor cars and indeed was the first manufacturer anywhere in the world – pre dating Henry Ford – to set up and run a production line for the manufacture of motor vehicles.

In 1894, Britain’s motor industry did not exist but Walter Arnold saw an opportunity for the new fangled ‘horse-less’ carriage. He reached an agreement with German engine manufacturer Benz to produce a British version of the car and imported a 1.5–litre engine from them.  The first customer car was sold before the 1896 Act ‘liberated’ the British car, almost certainly making the Arnold Benz the first ‘British’ car to go on sale. Whilst in Germany car production prospered, it was not the case in the UK, and only a dozen machines were built and sold before Arnold abandoned its enterprise.

However this was not the end of the Arnold Company and after a number of incarnations, it continues today as Arnolds Environmental Ltd.

To find out more about the Arnold Benz please visit the auto classic site.