Bentley today announced a landmark £2.5billion investment in its UK factory to fulfil its ‘green dream’ of building fully electric luxury performance cars in Britain and preserving 4,000 jobs.

Within three years the first fully-electric Bentley will arrive on the production lines. In eight years all new cars will have been fully electric by the time Crewe’s plant is fully operational. The firm praised the 10-year investment in Britain as a vote in confidence and as a significant boost to the UK’s economy.

This cash injection is an important step in the “Beyond100” strategy, which charts the next century for the company that was founded in 1919 by Walter Owen (‘W.O.’). Bentley now forms part of Germany’s Volkswagen Group. It is also an electric-power leader Audi.

Confidence vote in Britain: Bentley today announced a landmark £2.5billion investment in its UK factory to fulfil its 'green dream' of building fully electric luxury cars in the UK from 2025

Confidence vote in Britain: Bentley today announced a landmark £2.5billion investment in its UK factory to fulfil its ‘green dream’ of building fully electric luxury cars in the UK from 2025

Bentley stated that the first Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), will be produced in 2025. This is a landmark in Bentley’s rich and distinguished history.

‘It is also a critical step in the company’s Beyond100 strategy – the ground-breaking plan launched in 2020 that will ensure Bentley is exclusively electric and end-to-end carbon neutral by 2030.’

Bosses stated that the new Bentley Dream Factory will make the site a world-leading digital facility with low environmental impacts and high quality. He also noted: “It will transform Bentley operations to the future benchmark in luxury car manufacturing, providing unique customer experiences and exemplary employee experience.”

“The important investment programme will also see a total transformation of Bentley’s product portfolio as well as the historic Crewe Campus.

Adrian Hallmark is chairman and chief executive of Bentley Motors. He stated that Beyond100 was the most bold plan Bentley has ever had in its illustrious past and within the luxury segment.

“It’s an ambitious roadmap that will lead to total carbon neutrality for our business system. This includes the move to 100 percent BEV in eight years.

“Our goal is not to be the standard for luxury vehicles or sustainable credentials, but our entire operation.” 

“Securing the production of our first BEV at Crewe was a significant moment for Bentley and the UK as we work together to ensure a sustainable long-term future for Crewe.”

The headquarters of Bentley in Crewe houses all operations, including research, development and engineering, and the production of three of the company’s model lines, Flying Spur, Continental and Bentayga.

The cash injection is a critical step in the 'Beyond100' strategy charting the second century of the company founded in 1919 by engineer Walter Owen 'W.O.' Bentley

This cash injection is an important step in the “Beyond100” strategy, which charts the next century for the company that was founded by Walter Owen (‘W.O.’) in 1919. Bentley

The fresh cash injection will see the Crewe plant in North West England transformed into a 'Dream Factory' for producing electric vehicles

With the new cash injection, Crewe’s North West England plant will be transformed into an ‘Dream Factory” for electric vehicle production.

Bentley’s ambitious “Beyond100” strategy includes a timetable and an ambition to achieve:

  • The entire product line will offer an electrified-hybrid option for 2024. It is also the first fully electric car to be launched in 2025. 
  • By 2026, only plug-in hybrids or batteries electric cars will be allowed 
  • Only pure-electric batteries vehicles will be allowed by 2030 when government bans the sale of new petrol or diesel cars

The company said: ‘Bentley’s first-ever BEV will be developed and built in the UK with the company committing to investing £2.5 billion in sustainability over the next ten years 

“The announcement will be a huge boost to UK’s economy. It also secures Bentley’s first electrification step at the plant where all Bentley models and 4,000 workers are made. 

It claims it is going to “reinvent everything” in its business, across its entire operations and its ‘products’.

Earlier this month Bentley announced record sales – up nearly a third – as it charges ahead with ambitious plans to electrify its entire range. It announced record deliveries of 14,659 cars to its customers world-wide in 2021 – an increase of 31 per cent on its previous record year in 2020 when it sold a then record 11,206 luxury vehicles.

Bentley says the investment is a first step into electrification at the production plant and will preserve the jobs of 4,000 workers there

Bentley claims that the investment will be a step towards electrification of the plant’s production line and will protect the employment opportunities for 4,000 employees.

It highlighted ‘unprecedented’ demand for its petrol-electric hybrid models – spearheaded by the Bentayga SUV priced from £158,000 and the new Flying Spur limousine from £164,000. One in five Bentayga sales is of the new Hybrid model, as it vows to become the first fully-electrified luxury car company with zero carbon emissions.

Bentley executives claim that these results show the commitment of the workforce. They also praise the efforts taken to maintain production in spite Covid, logistical challenges and shortages worldwide for key components.

Bentley’s record-breaking third quarter operating profit of Euros 265million was announced October. It is now on pace for an unprecedented full year. More figures are expected to be revealed in March.

Peter Bosch, a board member of Bentley Motors’ manufacturing committee, said: “Today is undoubtedly the most significant day in Bentley Motors’ modern history and it is testament to the hardwork and skillful work of our Crewe colleagues. 

“The journey begins now. Our factory has already been transformed to be carbon neutral and boasts industry-leading environmental credentials.

“With our new concept of the “Dream Factory”, we can now reduce water and waste as well as other environmental impact until 2030. 

“Digital tech will improve customer interaction and the employee experience by enhancing unique craftsmanship and customer interaction. It also offers greater flexibility and allows for personalisation in new ways. 

“We will transform Crewe’s best into the next benchmark for luxury car manufacturing.”

MOTORING: SAVE MONEY

Logo L&C

This article might contain affiliate links. We may receive a commission if you click them. This helps to fund This Is Money and keeps it free of charge. Articles are not written to sell products. Our editorial independence is not affected by any commercial relationships.