- Milestone Event: Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal officially unveils Bentley Motors’ next-generation Paint Shop at its Crewe headquarters.
- Automotive World-First: The tall, multi-level facility becomes the first automotive paint shop globally to utilize Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) throughout body production.
- Next-Gen Ready: The facility will paint Bentley’s upcoming fourth model line, the Bentley Torcal, alongside the Continental GT, Continental GTC, and Flying Spur.
(CREWE, UK — 22 July 2026) — Marking a major turning point in the evolution of its Crewe headquarters , Bentley Motors today welcomed Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to officially open its new state-of-the-art Paint Shop. The visit underscores Bentley’s ongoing commitment to British manufacturing, cutting-edge automation, and sustainable luxury production.
During her tour of the Crewe campus, Her Royal Highness visited Bentley’s Design Studio and manufacturing lines , meeting with the master craftspeople and engineers who handcraft the brand’s luxury vehicles. The visit concluded with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque marking the official opening.
A Revolution in Craftsmanship & Automation
Spanning 12,500 square metres across multiple levels, the new Paint Shop is the tallest structure on the Crewe site and stands as a key pillar in Bentley’s Dream Factory master plan.
Engineered with both environmental performance and human ergonomics at its core:
- AGV Integration: It is the first paint facility in the world to transport car bodies through the entire painting process using Autonomous Guided Vehicles (AGVs), dramatically increasing flexibility.
- Workplace Innovation: Advanced climate and thermal management systems create cooler, optimized conditions for hand-finishing specialists.
- Sustainable Efficiency: Intelligent automation reduces physical strain on workers while delivering substantial reductions in overall energy consumption, emissions, and waste.
Executive Commentary
Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser, Chairman and Chief Executive of Bentley Motors:
“We are honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to Crewe to mark the official opening of our new Paint Shop—a proud moment and the culmination of incredible ambition. Her visit celebrates the extraordinary colleagues whose expertise and passion drive Bentley forward.”
Andreas Lehe, Member of the Board for Manufacturing:
“This facility represents a major milestone in our Dream Factory transformation and a significant investment in the future of British manufacturing. From improved thermal comfort to intelligent automation, we are setting new standards for luxury automotive production while building a modern working environment centered around our people.”
Paving the Way for the Bentley Torcal
The new Paint Shop will play a central role in Bentley’s expanding vehicle lineup. In addition to painting current models—including the Continental GT, Continental GTC, and Flying Spur —the facility will handle production for Bentley’s highly anticipated fourth model line, the Bentley Torcal, from launch.
