Bentley invests £350m in Crewe site in UK where new Torcal model will be built

Bentley's fourth and latest model line – the Torcal all-electric SUV – will be built in the UK, at the OEM's headquarters in Crewe.

The new production line, which Bentley confirmed is "now nearing completion" is located within a "new and highly advanced purpose-built facility" – one of the original factory buildings constructed in 1938, which originally housed the machining shop but most recently was used as Bentley’s R&D workshop.

Repurposed to create additional capacity at the site, this building was stripped and fitted with a precisely level floor to allow autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) to move in-build Torcals around the facility.

The addition of a new production line and the development of this new facility form part of Bentley's £350 million ($462m) renewal programme in Crewe that has also included the opening of a new on-site paint shop.

Bentley has said that production of its new model line will be supported by "a network of British suppliers" – one of which being including Somerset-based Fox Brothers, which provides the wool used in the interior of the Torcal.

Fact file: Bentley's Crewe headquarters

Constructed: 1938

First Bentley car produced:  Bentley Mark VI in 1946

Current employees: 4,000+

Site footprint (total): 521,111m²

Site footprint (indoors): 166,930m²

Three major UK automotive investments in seven days

This announcement was the third major investment in UK automotive manufacturing to be confirmed in the space of seven days, with UK business secretary Jonathan Reynolds welcoming a combined investment in excess of £1 billion ($1.35bn) in the country's automotive sector. It follows news of McLaren's £500m ($668m) commitment to expanding its UK footprint and Nissan's £170 million ($229m) investment to support production of its new Kicks hybrid crossover in Sunderland.

"Bentley’s investment will support 4,000 high-value local jobs in Crewe, combining advanced electric vehicle technology with UK craftsmanship…" said Reynolds. "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."

Bentley confirmed that its investment has delivered new manufacturing, design and logistics capabilities at the site in Crewe, with Dr Frank-Steffen Walliser, chairman and CEO of Bentley Motors, describing the move as "a powerful statement about [Bentley's] 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," he added.

A signal of investment confidence amid industry uncertainty

Against a backdrop of uncertainty as the UK automotive sector navigates the potential impact of the EU’s ‘Made in Europe’ proposals, Mike Hawes, chief executive of the society for motor manufacturers and traders (SMMT), said the recent announcements from Nissan, McLaren and Bentley "represent a massive vote of confidence in the future of UK manufacturing, skills and innovation".

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The SMMT has expressed concern that the EU’s proposed ‘Made in Europe’ provisions could exclude UK-built vehicles from incentives for EU-built products, including support for greener corporate fleets and CO₂ super credits, as well as from public procurement programmes. The trade association shared its belief that this would put UK production at a competitive disadvantage in its largest export market, potentially reducing demand for UK-built vehicles and, in turn, demand for EU-made components, goods and services.

The exposure extends beyond vehicle sales, given the deep integration of UK and EU automotive supply chains. SMMT-commissioned analysis by Oxford Economics has estimated that UK automotive production supports €24bn ($27bn) of economic activity and 250,000 jobs across the EU, while UK automotive exports to the EU generate €5.6bn ($6.3bn) of spending on EU goods and services.

Hawes said excluding the UK from these provisions would be an “own goal” for the EU, weakening competitiveness, reducing scale and limiting consumer choice. He stressed the need for a "better outcome" and called for the UK to be recognised as a trusted partner under the EU’s Industrial Accelerator Act.