Currently reading: Bentley sets sights on hybrid power
Company bosses confirm Bentley will look to use hybrid technology in its future models, while also reaffirming its commitment to UK manufacturing

Bentley has promised it will continue to make cars in the UK.

Company boss Wolfgang Schreiber told Autocar: "UK manufacturing is crucial for us".

Schreiber also revealed the company is seriously considering using hybrid powertrains in its future models. He said the technology was "perfect for us", and would be "applied" to a number of Bentley models at its base in Crewe. 

The first Bentley model to use hybrid technology could be the firm's forthcoming SUV, which will launch in 2016 with a plug-in hybrid variant to launch in 2018. 

The firm's financial results for 2013 show that operating profit increased to record levels of £139.7 million, an increase of almost 67 per cent on 2012, while the company's profit margin reached 10 per cent. Turnover also reached record levels, growing by over 15 per cent to £1.40 billion.

While Bentley's export activities continue to take the bulk of sales, making up 88 per cent of total turnover, the UK market continued to perform well and contributed to 14 per cent of total deliveries.

Bentley sees increasing growth opportunities in China, where it is currently the top luxury brand. For the moment, however, the US remains the firm's biggest market.

Schreiber said: "Customers all over the world continue to be very enthusiastic about Bentley. The luxury car market is not static. We will continue to make sure that Bentley will meet the changing needs of our discerning customers."

Bentley delivered a total of 10,120 cars in 2013. Last year the company had 193 dealerships, but plans to increase this to around 220 sales points by the end of this year.

Steve Cropley

Steve Cropley Autocar
Title: Editor-in-chief

Steve Cropley is the oldest of Autocar’s editorial team, or the most experienced if you want to be polite about it. He joined over 30 years ago, and has driven many cars and interviewed many people in half a century in the business. 

Cropley, who regards himself as the magazine’s “long stop”, has seen many changes since Autocar was a print-only affair, but claims that in such a fast moving environment he has little appetite for looking back. 

He has been surprised and delighted by the generous reception afforded the My Week In Cars podcast he makes with long suffering colleague Matt Prior, and calls it the most enjoyable part of his working week.

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fadyady 19 March 2014

The powerhouse of VW empire

Since sharing the platforms, power-trains and engines is common practice among the subsidiaries of the empire, shouldn't the headline read: Bentley sets sights on Porsche hybrid power?