It has been announced that several luxury car companies are to take advantage of government grants from a regional growth fund. The firms will include both Bentley and Lotus.
Bentley, which is now based in Crewe in Cheshire, already employs around 900 people in its engineering department, but the grant will mean more jobs as the firm has plans to work on a new engine. This is particularly good news for university leavers as Bentley’s graduate scheme will see an increased intake next year, as will its apprentice scheme.
The chairman and chief executive of Bentley, Wolfgang Durheimer, said:
“This is a real boost for Bentley. This grant will help safeguard our (engineering) operations as we look to develop new powertrains which appeal to new markets and new customers.”
This is a reference to the growing Chinese market and the new engine will certainly be designed with this in mind. The firm has sold well over a thousand cars in China already this year – four doors proving particularly popular – and wishes to exploit this further.
News of the grant was warmly received by Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson, who said the developments would be to the benefit of thousands of his constituents who were employed by Bentley or by related businesses.