Bentley Breaks Ground On New Facility As It Accelerates EV Ambitions

Bentley has edged closer to its all-electric future after breaking ground at the location for its new Launch Quality Centre and Engineering Technical Center.

This new hub is essential to the brand's future as it prepares to launch its first-ever battery-powered electric vehicle. The facility will be based at the automaker's headquarters in Crewe, England, and will reportedly set new benchmarks in manufacturing operations.

While the automaker produces electrified vehicles like theFlying Spur Hybrid, there are no pure EVs as yet. To prepare for thearrival of the first electric Bentley in 2026, the automaker will set up a replica BEV assembly line. The plant will also feature a prototype workshop and a dedicated center that focuses on material development.

The automaker says the construction of this facility will cost £35 million (approx. $42 million) and forms part of a greater £2.5 billion ($3 billion) investment.

The Launch Quality Center will take up two floors and occupy a grand total of just over 43,000 square feet. The ground floor will be occupied by the Metrology team, the group responsible for ensuring every component that goes into forthcoming cars are of the highest standard. Their role is to ensure that each and every Bentley that rolls off the production line is worthy of the winged B badging.

The second floor will be utilized as a production proving ground, where the prototype production line will be tested along with vehicle materials.

Bentley's Engineering Technical Center will also take up two floors and will house a prototype workshop for future Bentley EVs, along with a hub for software integration. Eventually, these departments will be moved from the A1 building at Pyms Lane and soon, 300 employees will call the new building home. Bentley hopes it will be complete by the end of 2023.