Auto Plastics, Ltd.

Auto Plastics, Ltd. is a fictional business featured in the British science fiction series Doctor Who. It is part of the classic era of the series and played a major role in the 1970 storyline, "Spearhead from Space".

Description & History
Auto Plastics, Ltd. was a British manufacturing company located in England, possibly in Essex. It specialized in the manufacturing of children's dolls, but eventually expanded its product line to include storefront mannequins. The manager of the Auto Plastics facility was George Hibbert. Hibbert, and a designer named John Ransome put together ideas for a new doll design and Hibbert sent Ransome to the United States to market it.

At this time, an alien hive mind known as the Nestine Consciouness created an artificial human construct that they named Channing and manipulated him into becoming the guiding force behind Auto Plastics. Channing used mind-control techniques to assert leverage over Hibbert, eventually forcing him to cut all ties with Ransome.

The factory was repurposed to suit the needs of the Nestine Consciousness, which required host bodies to carry out the commands of the hive mind. Under Channing's command, Hibbert began manufacturing mannequins for the Nestine to control, which came to be known as Autons.

The Doctor and his newest companion, Elizabeth Shaw, learned about what was taking place and encouraged Hibbert to reassert control over his body. He turned against Channing, only to find that he too was a highly sophisticated Auton.

What became of Auto Plastics, Ltd. following the defeat of Channing and the Nestine Consciousness is unknown, but the Nestine would eventually create more Autons to plague future incarnations of the Doctor.

Staff

 * Channing - Nestine/Auton controller
 * George Hibbert - Manager
 * John Ransome - Developer
 * Secretary

Appearances

 * Doctor Who: Spearhead from Space (Part 1)
 * Doctor Who: Spearhead from Space (Part 2)
 * Doctor Who: Spearhead from Space (Part 3)
 * Doctor Who: Spearhead from Space (Part 4)