Developments in the industry often came from pioneering engineers with components being imported off the continent for the British industry. Britain was lagging behind other European nations. The industry established itself in the inter-war period by relying on entrepreneurs and engineers, such as Herbert Austin who built the first four wheeled English car by 1900. Austin also built the first low horse-power car to substitute the motor-cycle side-car and public transport. The pre-war industry had high production costs with poor managerial leadership with most manufacturers being family run, resulting in little asset growth within the company as profits were quickly distributed to employees or family.