3 minute read - 27th January 2022
Bentley Motors to invest £2.5bn & produce new electric cars in Crewe
Bentley’s first-ever battery-powered electric vehicle (BEV) will be developed and built in the UK, with the company committing to investing £2.5bn in sustainability over the next 10 years. The announcement is a major boost for the UK economy and also helps secure Bentley’s first step into electrification at its Crewe production plant, where all Bentley models are built and 4,000 people are employed.
Alongside the investment, Bentley has committed to launching a new electric model each year between 2025 and 2030, with all five electric models designed and developed in Crewe.
The significant investment programme will result in a complete transformation of Bentley’s entire product portfolio and a reinvention of the Crewe campus. Bentley says Crewe will become a ‘dream factory’ – a digital, zero environmental impact, flexible and high-value manufacturing facility.
Bentley Motors is to make a £2.5bn investment over the next 10 years and launch five new electric models – one a year from 2025 – all manufactured at its Crewe factory / Picture: Bentley Motors
The company has already made enormous strides in reinventing the Crewe site and creating a certified carbon neutral facility, with the new investment and acceleration of its Beyond100 strategy forming the basis to reduce Bentley’s carbon footprint across all products and non-factory operations, in line with Bentley’s commitment to be end-to-end carbon neutral by 2030.
Among the latest initiatives will be an extension of on-site energy production at Crewe, aiming to increase the number of solar panels from 30,000 to 40,000 in the next two years. Moreover, Bentley is investigating using sustainable biofuel in fleet cars, including Bentley’s Heritage Collection. Bentley’s partners are also being encouraged to support Bentley’s goal of being end-to-end carbon neutral by 2030, with suppliers expected to meet minimum sustainability standards. This will extend to Bentley’s global retailer network, each aiming for carbon neutrality by 2025, possibly even sooner.
The new ‘dream factory’ includes a go-to-zero approach on the environmental impacts of manufacturing. Having achieved carbon neutral production already in 2019, Bentley aims to reduce water consumption, waste to landfill and other environmental impacts for every vehicle built in Crewe to an absolute minimum until 2030.
Adrian Hallmark, chairman and CEO of Bentley Motors, 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.
“Simultaneously accelerating our Beyond100 strategy and securing BEV production at Crewe, alongside a £2.5 billion investment, makes this a major landmark in Bentley’s 102-year history. It is a shining light for the Bentley family, our suppliers and partners, as well as the automotive industry and UK manufacturing as a whole.
“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.”
The Bentley Motors Crewe site will become a ‘dream factory’ – a digital, zero environmental impact, flexible and high-value manufacturing facility / Picture: Bentley Motors
Peter Bosch, board member for manufacturing at Bentley Motors, added: “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.”