Bentley Crewe factory to produce marque’s first battery-powered electric vehicle

Bentley’s Crewe manufacturing site will develop and build the luxury car maker’s first battery-powered electric vehicle (BEV).

The auto group also announced it will invest £2.5bn in sustainability over the next decade.

All Bentley models are made in Crewe, where 4,000 people are employed by the German-owned marque.

The first BEV is scheduled to roll off the production line in 2025 and will mark a significant moment in Bentley’s long and illustrious history. It is also a critical step in the company’s Beyond100 strategy, the plan launched in 2020 that will ensure Bentley is exclusively electric and end-to-end carbon neutral by 2030.

The significant investment programme will also result in a complete transformation of Bentley’s entire product portfolio, and the historic Crewe Campus, by embedding an industry leading greenfield facility into a world leading, next generation digital, low environmental impact, high value advanced manufacturing facility.

Bentley chairman and CEO, Adrian Hallmark, said: “Beyond100 is the boldest plan in Bentley’s illustrious history, and in the luxury segment. It’s an ambitious and credible roadmap to carbon neutrality of our total business system, including the shift to 100% BEV in just eight years.

“Our aim is to become the benchmark, not just for luxury cars or sustainable credentials, but the entire scope of our operations. Securing production of our first BEV in Crewe is a milestone moment for Bentley, and the UK, as we plan for a long term sustainable future in Crewe.”

Peter Bosch, board member for manufacturing at Bentley Motors, said: “Today is arguably the most important day in Bentley’s modern history, and is a testament to the hard work and skill of our colleagues in Crewe.

“The journey really does start now. We are already marking the pinnacle in luxury car production and have already transformed our factory to become carbon neutral, with industry leading environmental credentials.

“With our new ‘Dream Factory’ concept, we now go to zero also with water, waste and other environmental impacts until 2030. Unique craftsmanship, customer interaction and employee experience will be enhanced by digital tech, higher flexibility and new ways of personalisation.

“We will develop the best of Crewe into the future benchmark of luxury car manufacturing.”