The new facility spans 12,500 square metres over several floors, making it the tallest structure on Bentley's Crewe campus
The Princess Royal visited Bentley Motors at its Crewe headquarters on Wednesday to formally inaugurate the luxury carmaker's new cutting-edge Paint Shop, a landmark moment in the company's ongoing Dream Factory transformation programme.
During her visit, Princess Anne was given a tour of Bentley's Design Studio, the newly completed Paint Shop and the broader manufacturing operations at the site.
She met staff from various parts of the business whose expertise and craftsmanship are central to producing Bentley's vehicles.
The occasion was marked by Anne unveiling a commemorative plaque, underscoring Bentley's dedication to manufacturing excellence at its long-established Cheshire base.
Dr Frank-Steffen Walliser, Bentley's Chairman and Chief Executive, said: "We are honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to Crewe and to mark the official opening of our new Paint Shop, a proud moment for all of us and the culmination of a great deal of innovation and ambition to see the facility come to life.
“Her visit provides an opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary colleagues whose expertise, passion and dedication continue to drive Bentley forward."
Andreas Lehe, the company's Board Member for Manufacturing, said: "This facility represents a major milestone in the transformation of our Dream Factory and a significant investment in the future of British manufacturing.
“Combining advanced technologies with exceptional craftsmanship, it strengthens our production capabilities and supports the next generation of Bentley vehicles, including the forthcoming Bentley Torcal."
Worker wellbeing has been built into the design from the outset. Advanced thermal management systems deliver cooler conditions for those carrying out intricate hand-finished work, whilst the AGVs and intelligent automation reduce physical strain and offer greater production flexibility.
The building also delivers notable improvements in energy efficiency and lower emissions and waste, demonstrating that technological investment can advance both sustainability goals and workplace quality simultaneously.
The Paint Shop will be integral to Bentley's forthcoming product range. The Bentley Torcal, which represents the marque's fourth model line, will be finished at the facility from the moment production begins.
It will share the Paint Shop with three existing models: the Continental GT, Continental GTC and Flying Spur.
Lehe also emphasised the human dimension of the project, noting that "every aspect of the Paint Shop has been designed around our colleagues" and that the facility is "creating a modern working environment that enables our people to perform at their very best while setting new standards for luxury automotive production."
The investment reinforces Bentley's broader ambition to build a modern, adaptable and future-ready production site in Crewe.
