Bentley Enters Electric Vehicle Era with New Assembly Line
Bentley, the luxury brand under the Volkswagen Group, has initiated construction of a dedicated assembly line for battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) at its Crewe, UK, headquarters. The move signifies a major step in the company’s transition towards an all-electric future.
However, the rollout of Bentley’s first all-electric vehicle has been pushed back. Originally slated for 2026, the luxury SUV is now expected to debut in 2027. This shift was revealed alongside the company’s annual financial results.
Bentley, operating under the direction of Audi within the VW Group, aims to become a fully electric brand by 2035. This target marks a change from the prior goal of achieving this by 2030, which was announced at the end of 2020.
Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser, Chairman and CEO of Bentley Motors, emphasized the scale of the investment, stating, “We are making unprecedented levels of investment at Bentley – not only to fundamentally renew our product cycle but also to transform an 85-year-old site for the new age of electrification. These key foundations will ensure our long-term sustainability and success.”
The preparations for electric vehicle production are already in full swing at Bentley. The historic A1 building in Crewe, an original facility, is being converted for electric car assembly. Alongside the new assembly line, the Crewe site will also house a new paint shop and design center, transforming it into a ‘Dream Factory.’ Bentley is investing a total of £2.5 billion in the site. The company plans to introduce a new hybrid or electric model annually until 2035.
The upcoming luxury SUV, set to be designed, developed, and produced in Crewe, will be built on the Platform Premium Electric (PPE) architecture. The PPE platform was jointly developed by Audi and Porsche. Bentley describes the upcoming model as the “world’s first true luxury SUV for the city.”
The announcement of Bentley’s electric vehicle plans coincided with the release of the company’s financial results for 2024. While sales decreased by 10 percent to €2.648 billion, operating profit fell by 37 percent to €373 million. Despite a return on sales of 14.1 percent, which Bentley characterized as “one of the best in the entire automotive industry,” the figure was notably lower than the 20.1 percent achieved in 2023. This indicates a need for Bentley to build upon its past achievements in the expanding electric vehicle market.
