Universal Power Drives

Universal Power Drives was founded in 1934 with a factory in Perivale and its head office in Aldwych, London.

Todd Motors in New Zealand produced the TS3 Commer Truck, in the early 1970s, with a Unipower tandem drive assembly as a factory option.

In 1977 the company was acquired by Caterpillar Inc and production was moved to Thames Ditton, Surrey.

In 1988 the company started a new enterprise in Watford to provide continuity of support for Scammell trucks following the closure of the Leyland DAF (formerly British Leyland) owned Scammell plant that year.

Following their elimination from the bidding process for the UK Ministry of Defence's Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET) project, Alvis announced their intention to seek a new owner for Alvis Unipower.