Bentley opens £12.5m test centre in major stop to electrify all its models
Bentley has opened a new engineering test centre at its headquarters in Crewe in a major step to electrify all of its models from 2024.
The £12.5m facility, which has safeguarded 100 jobs, is a two-storey building which covers 4,600 sq m and was completed on schedule.
The new facility has started testing immediately after receiving official approval from the UK’s Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA).
It means the luxury car maker can now carry out in-house emissions, fuel economy and electric range testing, including the latest WLTP fuel consumption and efficiency test procedures, and ensures testing can be undertaken more swiftly than using a third-party site.
Bentley said the move was “a major stepping stone” in meeting the standards set by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
Bentley engineering board member Matthias Rabe said: “Today’s announcement is another key landmark in Bentley’s ongoing modernisation programme.
“It will give us the independence to test our own engines and further enhance our industry-leading manufacturing plant in Crewe as we move towards offering electric or hybrid versions of all our models by 2024.
“The centre will also allow Bentley to meet increased demand from customers for our luxury, hand-built vehicles, including the Flying Spur, the Continental GT and the new Bentayga.”
The site will also build up operations to meet all global emission standards by the middle of 2022.
The structure includes 773 sq m of office space, as well as 1550 sq m for the installation of a climate-controlled chassis dynamometer.
Bentley currently has two plug-in hybrids on sale, variants of the Bentayga and Flying Spur, and will launch its first EV in 2025 before becoming an electric-only brand from 2030.
