Bentley Motors has started work on a £35m development that will help accelerate its plans to go fully electric.
The Crewe-headquartered luxury car maker is constructing its new Launch Quality Centre and Engineering Technical Centre which aims to be "integral" to its preparations for future battery-powered electric vehicle (BEV) production.
The new buildings will include a replica BEV assembly line as preparation for the introduction of Bentley’s first BEV in 2026.
READ MORE: Click here to sign up to the BusinessLive North West newsletter
The development will also include a software integration centre, prototype workshop, metrology testing and a dedicated area focusing on future materials development.
The new Launch Quality Centre will take up two floors, each covering 4,000sqm. The Engineering Technical Centre will also be located across two floors, covering a total of 13,000sqm.
In total, the Launch Quality Centre and Engineering Technical Centre will be home to approximately 300 Bentley employees and is planned for completion by the end of 2023.
Peter Bosch, member of the board for manufacturing, said: "Breaking ground on the new Launch Quality Centre and Engineering Technical Centre is another major milestone on our journey towards an electrified, carbon-neutral future.
"The automotive industry is in the middle of a digital revolution, with cars becoming true digital devices, and this presents a significant opportunity for Bentley as we aim for a benchmark position in next generation, high-value manufacturing that supports our evolving Dream Factory and re-emphasises our commitment to both our Beyond100 strategy and our long-term future at the site."
READ MORE:
