Vauxhall came to Luton in 1905, just two years after the company had started to make cars. The company was taken over by GM in 1925 but continued to develop and build its own vehicles in Luton. In 1931 the truck and bus arm Bedford was created, the first Bedford vehicles were reworked Chevrolet vehicles but Bedford soon became a unique marque in its own right. During the Second World War, Vauxhall became a major supplier of lorries and also produced the Churchill Tank which were tested in the grounds of nearby Luton Hoo. The lake at Wardown Park was even used for testing vehicles to be used on D-Day.