Bentley Motors has confirmed that it plans to develop an SUV, which will be made in Crewe and go on sale in 2016.
Volkswagen-owned Bentley Motors says it predicts the SUV will create over 1000 jobs in the UK and the company plans to invest more than £800 million in its headquarters at Crewe and the development of new models.
No new official image has been released to coincide with today’s announcement but Bentley has said that the styling “will set it apart from any other SUV on the road and will be true to the Bentley design DNA”.
Earlier in the year Bentley released a video of the SUV concept.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFJuQkH_Osc
UK 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 £800 million 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 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.”
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. 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.”
