Q&A ADRIAN HALLMARK, CEO, BENTLEY
How big a question was there over building
EVS in Crewe?
“This has been a three-year slog. We had to fix the basics and make the company work. We had Covid thrown at us, and I think we managed that better than most. We’ve completely restored confidence that Bentley can deliver. It’s the fruit of three years of performance and convincing.”
To what extent will Bentley EVS benefit from VW Group platforms? “Before, [our platforms] were developed from group architectures that were developed way before we got to the party. The effort to modify systems and the suppliers’ requirements has been a major limiter for Bentley in the past. With this generation of car, right from the outset we’ve been involved to ensure the specification that Bentley needs. I can’t emphasise enough how much of a breakthrough this is.
It’s a game-changer.”
Does electrification pave the way for segment expansion? “Electric [powertrains] won’t lead automatically to smaller cars. Our job is to create inspirational cars. We love the bodystyles that we currently have. They may evolve, but they won’t radically change in terms
You recently hinted at growing sales beyond the record-breaking 15,000 units of last year. How will you maintain exclusivity? “We sold 15,000 last year, but you didn’t see a lot more on the roads, did you? I won’t put a limit on [sales], but we’re not chasing volume. We’re chasing the right customers with the right proposition.”