David Garel Rhys was born on February 28, 1940, and died on February 21, 2017.

He was a Welsh academic and a commentator of long standing on Motor Industry matters in Britain, who was Professor of Motor Industry Economics, and Director for Automotive Industry Research at Cardiff Business School.

He attended Ystalyfera Grammar School at Ystalyfera, then in West Glamorgan, now in Neath Port Talbot.

Garel studied at University College, Swansea, then the University of Birmingham.

Rhys married in 1965 to Charlotte Mavis Walters.

Together they had one son and two daughters, and four grandchildren including Evan.

Rhys was the second cousin of Rhodri Morgan, the former First Minister of Wales.

Rhys was invested as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1989, and as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2007 for services to economic research in Wales.

Garel was a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Carmen and was granted the Freedom of the City of London in 2000.