- Bentley unveils first fully electric vehicle and completes £350m UK investment, marking latest vote of confidence in Britain’s advanced manufacturing sector.
- Announcement means UK automotive sector welcomes £1bn of investment in just seven days, from Bentley, McLaren and Nissan.
- News secures 4,000 jobs at Bentley’s Crewe plant, strengthens automotive supply chains and boosts UK’s transition to electric vehicles, supporting government’s mission to reindustrialise Britain.
Britain’s automotive industry is set for its third major boost in a week as iconic car manufacturer Bentley announces it has completed a £350 million investment into its Crewe plant to build its first fully electric vehicle.
The news takes the total figure for investment announcements in the UK automotive sector to over £1 billion in just seven days following £500 and £170 million investments from McLaren and Nissan respectively, announced just last week – showing the confidence businesses have in Britain and delivering on the Prime Minister’s reindustrialisation mission.
Thanks to the Modern Industrial Strategy, which is delivering the biggest government investment of the post-war era into Britain’s car industry, the announcements show government is creating the right business environment for companies like Bentley, McLaren and Nissan to choose the UK.
This comes as the Government doubles down on efforts to support the UK’s transition to electric vehicles, with £7.5 billion to grow the market, boost manufacturing, increase sales and build up the UK’s charging network.
Government is also currently consulting businesses for their views on shaping the pathway towards the 2030 phaseout of new petrol and diesel cars, ensuring the EV transition targets work for both industry and consumers.
Designed, engineered and built in Britain, Bentley’s new fully electric model – the Torcal – will support around 4,000 existing jobs in Crewe while strengthening domestic automotive supply chains across the country, helping to grow the economy and make people better off while reinforcing the UK’s position as a leading destination for car manufacturing.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:
Bentley’s investment will support 4,000 high-value local jobs in Crewe, combining advanced electric vehicle technology with UK craftsmanship, and is proof once again that we’re creating the right conditions for good growth and success in manufacturing through our Modern Industrial Strategy.
Bentley’s announcement is the third win in just seven days for our world-class automotive industry, which truly shows the confidence that businesses have in Britain.
Dr Frank-Steffen Walliser, Chairman and CEO of Bentley Motors, said:
The Torcal is a Bentley first and foremost, but it is also a powerful statement about our confidence in Britain as a centre of design, engineering and manufacturing excellence.
Developed in Crewe and supported by a highly-skilled UK supply chain, Torcal demonstrates how investment, innovation and craftsmanship can come together to create a world-leading luxury product. I believe this is the best Bentley yet.
As part of its investment, Bentley has delivered new manufacturing, design and logistics capabilities at its Crewe site alongside major workforce training and skills development, helping secure the future of luxury vehicle production in the United Kingdom in a competitive global market.
Background
Together with recent announcements from McLaren (£500 million) and Nissan (£170 million), the investment takes the total value of automotive investment announced in Britain between 16-23 September to £1.02 billion.
Bentley’s all-new Torcal model represents a major milestone for both Bentley and British manufacturing, combining advanced electric vehicle technology with UK craftsmanship and engineering excellence.
