Bentley Motors has opened a new Excellence Centre for Quality & Launch at its Crewe headquarters, marking a crucial step in the luxury carmaker’s transition to EV production. The facility was inaugurated by Volkswagen AG Board Member Gunnar Kilian alongside Bentley’s Board of Management.
The 8,000-square-metre centre, spread across two floors, will play a key role in developing Bentley’s first battery electric vehicle (BEV), scheduled for release next year as an urban luxury SUV. The facility transforms part of the 85-year-old Crewe site to support the company’s electrification strategy.
The centre features a production proving ground and a mini assembly line specifically designed for testing BEV assembly processes. It also houses a technical centre for materials testing, dimensional measurement, and vehicle analysis, aimed at maintaining Bentley’s quality standards as it moves into EV production.
“The Excellence Centre for Quality & Launch is a key building block for the successful delivery of the Beyond100+ strategy,” said Andreas Lehe, Bentley’s Board Member for Manufacturing. “The facility represents a significant step forward in transforming our historic Crewe site into a world-leading hub for sustainable luxury automotive production. The new facility will be a collaborative workspace for both Quality & Launch teams and will play a crucial role in upholding the unparalleled quality, precision, and craftsmanship that defines Bentley, as we deliver our first fully electric vehicle.”
The centre is part of Bentley’s Beyond100+ strategy, which aims to reinvent the company’s entire product range for an electrified future. The Crewe headquarters, which employs approximately 4,000 people, handles all aspects of vehicle creation, from design and R&D to engineering and production of Bentley’s current five-model range, including the Continental GT, Continental GTC, Flying Spur, Bentayga, and Bentayga EWB.
