AWD Trucks
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive, Defence |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Founder | David J.B. Brown |
| Defunct | 1992 |
| Fate | Integrated with Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
Key people | David J.B. Brown (founder) |
| Products | Bedford heavy-duty trucks (TJ, TK, MK, TL models) |
AWD Trucks (All Wheel Drive) was a UK-based manufacturer of Bedford trucks, operating from 1987 until 1992, before its integration with Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group. The final Bedford truck model was phased out in 1998, marking the end of the Bedford brand. Separately, another British firm named AWD Company Limited, located in Camberley, Surrey, produced all-wheel-drive trucks and earthmoving equipment between 1958 and 1966.
History
In 1986, General Motors divested their heavy-duty truck segment of Bedford to David J.B. Brown, the founder of Artix Limited, while maintaining ownership of the Bedford light truck division as IBC Vehicles. Under Brown's leadership, production of heavy-duty models such as the Bedford TJ, Bedford TK, Bedford MK, and Bedford TL recommenced in 1987 under the AWD Trucks label. Meanwhile, GM retained the Bedford name for light commercial vehicles like the Bedford Midi and Bedford Rascal, which were based on designs from Suzuki and Isuzu. AWD Trucks primarily focused on export markets where their vehicles gained popularity; within the UK, sales were predominantly directed at construction firms and military users.
Brown also established Multidrive Vehicles, manufacturing 8x6 variants of the AWD TK and TL models tailored mainly for military and specialized applications. In 1992, AWD merged with Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group, continuing production solely of the older Bedford TJ model—rebranded as AWD TJ—which maintained strong export demand in countries such as Pakistan and India. Production ended in 1998, concluding the Bedford marque. By that time, AWD had achieved £3 billion in exports, received four Queen's Awards to Industry, and generated an annual revenue of £400 million.
In 1996, Brown divested Multidrive Vehicles to Caterpillar, subsequently serving as a design consultant for Caterpillar’s Cat 7 Series ADT. Bedford trucks manufactured by Multidrive underwent modernization, redesign, and were rebranded under Caterpillar. These vehicles were extensively exported and utilized in conflicts including the Gulf War, Bosnia, and Kosovo. The company re-entered the British market in 2001 and expanded its export footprint to South Africa. In 2003, it introduced a new lineup of military vehicles while continuing production of legacy trucks. Following Brown’s passing in 2006, ownership transferred to Dr Qu Li.