Bentley jobs boost with £800m SUV investment

LUXURY car maker Bentley Motors says it will create around 1,000 new jobs with the launch of a new 4×4 Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), which will be built at its factory in Crewe and go on sale in 2016.

The manufacturer, which has around 4,000 employees at the Cheshire plant, says it will invest around £800m in the new model over the next three years.

The blueprint for the SUV was unveiled in China 18 months ago, and the response to the concept model was so positive that it has inspired the German-owned group to make the investment.

Prime Minister David Cameron, who was present together with Dr Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Volkswagen Group for the announcement at Bentley headquarters in Crewe, said: “This £800m investment and a thousand new jobs from Bentley is fantastic news for both Crewe and for the UK as a whole. It is another important milestone in strengthening our economy.

“One sector that we know is sprinting ahead in the global race is our booming automotive industry. One vehicle rolls off a production line somewhere in the UK every 20 seconds and we have just launched the Government’s Automotive Industrial Strategy to help continue this success for years to come.

“I am delighted that Bentley will be building their new vehicle here, not only creating 1,000 jobs, but safeguarding many more, as well as increasing training opportunities for highly skilled apprentices.”

Dr Winterkorn said: “The Volkswagen Group believes in the UK as a competitive location for industrial production. Bentley fans all around the world are looking forward to the brand’s first SUV. Together we will make this new Bentley another true Bentley – powerful, exclusive and successful.”

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “This is a welcome commitment to the UK from a major international car maker. Our automotive industrial strategy proves this government’s commitment to working with world-class companies like Bentley to create jobs and promote exports.

“Bentley was the first firm I visited as a government minister and serves as a real example of high value manufacturing. They export more than four out of every five cars they make in the UK to the rest of the world.”

Bentley’s Chairman and Chief Executive, Dr Wolfgang Schreiber, added: “This is excellent news for Bentley and for the UK. Bentley is increasingly successful and this new fourth model line will leverage the success of the global SUV market. The support of everyone involved with the company has been fundamental to this decision, which will ensure sustainable growth for the company.”

Trade union Unite welcomed Bentley’s growth plans.

Assistant general secretary, Tony Burke said: “Unite worked with the company to win the new SUV. This extra investment is down to the ingenuity of the highly skilled workforce in Crewe.

“The creation of 400 new directly employed workers and a further 600 in the supply chain is great news for the North West and for the wider UK economy. The UK car industry’s success story is continuing with another major boost for jobs.

“The UK motor industry built 1.6 million vehicles last year – it’s a driving force for growth. Government and industry need to learn the lessons of this success story and use them to rebuild the wider manufacturing sector.”