Bentley Motors has unveiled its first-ever Excellence Centre, which is dedicated to developing a fully electric SUV, at its historic Bentley Crewe factory in the United Kingdom.
This state-of-the-art facility will lead the research and development for Bentley’s groundbreaking electric SUV, which is slated for release in 2026. Last week’s grand opening, attended by executives from the Volkswagen Group and Bentley Motors’ board, marked a pivotal moment in the 85-year-old Crewe plant’s transition to electrification.
The two-story Excellence Centre boasts 86,111 square feet of cutting-edge space. It houses production testing zones and a compact assembly line for prototyping future EV manufacturing processes. The center also incorporates a high-tech facility for testing advanced materials, conducting precision measurements, performing comprehensive vehicle analysis, and running rigorous reliability tests. This multifaceted approach will be instrumental in upholding Bentley’s renowned quality, performance, and longevity standards across its vehicle lineup.
The establishment of the Excellence Centre and the development of Bentley’s first all-electric SUV are key components of the company’s forward-thinking “Beyond100+” strategy. This ambitious plan aims to revolutionize Bentley’s operations by implementing digital, carbon-neutral production and quality control facilities, paving the way for an electrified future. The forthcoming luxury EV, poised to be the world’s first urban ultra-luxury SUV, is expected to redefine standards in the premium automotive sector by leveraging cutting-edge manufacturing techniques and innovative technologies.
Andreas Lehe, Bentley Motors’ Board Member for Production, emphasized the significance of the new facility by stating that the Excellence Centre is a cornerstone in successfully executing its Beyond100+ strategy. He described how this initiative transforms their historic Crewe site into a world-leading hub for sustainable luxury vehicle production. Lehe highlighted that this advanced center will play a crucial role in preserving Bentley’s unparalleled quality standards, precision, and craftsmanship as they venture into producing their first fully electric SUV.
