VW May Own Bentley But Their Cars Are Not Built In Germany

Bentley’s blend of performance and craftsmanship defines its British character, but its true origin remains a point of contention among enthusiasts, often traced back to a pivotal event thirty years ago.

Founded in 1919, Bentley gained acclaim for its luxury performance cars and Le Mans success in the 1920s. However, the 1929 Wall Street Crash forced a takeover by Rolls-Royce, leaving Bentley dependent on Rolls-Royce chassis and engines for the next sixty years. Despite this, Bentley maintained a unique identity with models like the 1952 R-Type Continental. By 1998, when parent company Vickers put both brands up for sale, BMW’s £340 million bid was challenged by another German automaker.

Volkswagen initiated a £430 million acquisition bid, successfully outmaneuvering BMW to secure the Crewe facility in northwest England, along with the associated vehicle marques and the rights to the iconic Rolls-Royce Spirit of Ecstasy mascot and Parthenon grille. However, BMW had already strategically secured a separate agreement with Rolls-Royce PLC, the aerospace engineering firm, to license the Rolls-Royce brand identity for a comparative sum of £40 million ($53 million).

BMW took Rolls-Royce and moved to Goodwood, while VW kept Bentley at the historic Crewe factory. Though Bentley shifted some Flying Spur production to Germany to meet high demand in 2005 and 2013, it has maintained its British heritage at the Pyms Lane base, where all current models are now manufactured.

Modern Bentleys retain significant German automotive DNA. For instance, the Bentayga shares its platform with Volkswagen Group counterparts like the Porsche Cayenne, while the Continental GT and Flying Spur utilize the same architecture as the Porsche Panamera. Following the discontinuation of the legendary 6.75-liter V8 engine in 2020, current models now incorporate 3.0-liter V6 and 4.0-liter V8 engines sourced from the Volkswagen Group and manufactured in mainland Europe. Furthermore, vehicle body shells are imported from Germany, with some components historically produced in Slovakia.

A car is more than its parts. Beyond the German engineering, it is the meticulous paint, bespoke Mulliner detailing, and the £350 million investment in the Crewe facility—including a new EV line—that define modern Bentley. Despite being under Audi’s management since 2021, the brand remains firmly rooted in its British heritage.

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