Bentley £800m investment in new plug-in hybrid adds to UK motor industry resurgence
Tue 23 December 2014
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Bentley has announced that it will invest £800m in its British factory to build the company's first sport utility vehicle (SUV). The company intends to use plug-in hybrid technology in the new model, incorporating a battery that can be charged, as well as a fuel tank, to improve fuel-efficiency.
Bentley, which is owned by Volkswagen says the new car will be “the most luxurious and most powerful SUV in the market”. It is expected to create more than 1,000 jobs in the UK and to go on sale in 2016.
Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the VW group, said the investment, will take place over three years and include apprentice training. He said: “We believe in the UK as a competitive location for industrial production”.
The Financial Times says that Bentley’s announcement follows similar decisions by “premium” brands Jaguar Land Rover, McLaren and BMW to invest in UK factories, reinvigorating an industry considered to be on its last legs just a decade ago and steering its focus towards high-end manufacturing and away from volume vehicles.
Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said: hybrid, electric and other “green” vehicles are a focus of the government’s automotive strategy. He said that the aim is to make the UK “the world’s hub” for low-emission technology.
“One sector that we know is sprinting ahead in the global race is our booming automotive industry,” David Cameron, the Prime Minister, said following the announcement at the Bentley factory.
The LowCVP published a report - 'Investing in the Low Carbon Journey' - alongside the annual conference in July. The study found that in addition to cutting carbon emissions at an historically unprecedented rate, a consistent policy with a low carbon focus has been an important reason for the motor industry's renaissance in the UK, which has contributed to the economy's recovery.
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