- Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, visits Bentley Motors’ headquarters in Crewe to mark a major milestone in the company’s Dream Factory transformation
- New cutting-edge paint facility occupies 12,500 square metres and combines advanced manufacturing technologies with enhanced sustainability, efficiency and a world-class working environment
- Bentley’s forthcoming fourth model line, the Bentley Torcal, will be painted in the new Paint Shop from launch
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal today visited Bentley Motors’ headquarters in Crewe to officially open the company’s new state-of-the-art Paint Shop, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing transformation of Bentley’s Dream Factory.
During the visit, Her Royal Highness toured Bentley’s Design Studio, the new Paint Shop and wider manufacturing operations, meeting colleagues from across the business whose skills, innovation and craftsmanship underpin the creation of Bentley’s extraordinary vehicles. The visit highlighted Bentley’s continued investment in advanced manufacturing technologies, sustainable production practices and the future of luxury automotive manufacturing in the UK.
Commenting on the visit, Dr Frank-Steffen Walliser, Chairman and Chief Executive of Bentley Motors, said:
“We are honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to Crewe and to mark the official opening of our new Paint Shop – a proud moment for all of us and the culmination of a great deal of innovation and ambition to see the facility come to life. Her visit provides an opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary colleagues whose expertise, passion and dedication continue to drive Bentley forward.”
Andreas Lehe, Bentley’s Member of the Board for Manufacturing, added: "This facility represents a major milestone in the transformation of our Dream Factory and a significant investment in the future of British manufacturing. Combining advanced technologies with exceptional craftsmanship, it strengthens our production capabilities and supports the next generation of Bentley vehicles, including the forthcoming Bentley Torcal. Just as importantly, every aspect of the Paint Shop has been designed around our colleagues. From improved thermal comfort to intelligent automation that enhances ergonomics and flexibility, we are creating a modern working environment that enables our people to perform at their very best while setting new standards for luxury automotive production."
The official opening was marked by the unveiling of a commemorative plaque by Her Royal Highness, celebrating an important moment in Bentley’s ongoing development of its Crewe headquarters and reaffirming the company’s commitment to British manufacturing excellence.
The new Paint Shop represents a major investment in Bentley’s future and is a central component of the company’s Dream Factory strategy. Covering 12,500 square metres across multiple levels, the facility is the tallest building on Bentley’s Crewe campus and the first automotive Paint Shop in the world to use Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) to transport vehicle bodies through the paint production process.
Designed to deliver greater efficiency, flexibility and environmental performance, the facility also reflects Bentley's commitment to creating manufacturing environments where people can do their best work. Advanced thermal management systems provide cooler, more comfortable conditions for colleagues carrying out highly skilled manual craftsmanship, while intelligent automation and AGVs improve ergonomics, reduce physical demands and enable more flexible production processes. Together with significant reductions in energy consumption, waste and emissions, the new Paint Shop demonstrates how investment in the latest technology can simultaneously advance sustainability and create a workplace built around the needs of Bentley's colleagues.
The Paint Shop will play a key role in Bentley’s future product portfolio. The Bentley Torcal, the brand’s fourth model line, will be painted in the facility from the start of production, alongside the Continental GT, Continental GTC and Flying Spur.
The new building underscores Bentley Motors’ continued commitment to innovation, sustainability, its people and manufacturing excellence as the company advances its vision for a modern, flexible and future-ready luxury automotive production site in Crewe.