Bentley Lands U.K. Grant for Powertrain Development

U.K. luxury auto maker Bentley wins its second government grant this year, this one for £3 million ($4.8 million) to support development of a new powertrain application to help the company penetrate new export markets.

Bentley says in a statement the grant will protect more than 200 jobs and create some additional positions within its 900-strong engineering department.

China showing increasing interest in Continental GT.

Traditionally drawn toward 4-door models such as the Mulsanne and Continental Flying Spur, customers in emerging markets such as China are showing increasing interest in the new 2-door Continental GT and GTC.

Despite significant sales growth, Bentley says it must look at new powertrains that anticipate changing demand, both to sustain growth and secure the auto maker’s long-term future.

Bentley is striving to meet those goals in part by increasing its graduate and apprentice intake next year.

The latest grant from the Department for Business Regional Growth Fund comes after the auto maker received £1.68 million ($2.6 million) earlier this year to create additional manufacturing jobs and training.

Bentley is one of a handful of auto makers with all its activities conducted on one site.

From design and engineering to production, sales and customer service, all functions are located at the auto maker’s historic Crewe site in Cheshire.

The third-biggest investor in research and development among auto makers operating in the U.K., Bentley also is among the overall top 20 companies investing in R&D there.

The auto maker employs 4,000 workers in Crewe.

“This is a real boost for Bentley, which has one of the most highly skilled automotive workforces in the country and, uniquely, has now been awarded two RGF grants,” Bentley Chairman and CEO Wolfgang Dürheimer says.

It shows the government recognizes the importance of Bentley and its contribution to high-value manufacturing and U.K. exports, he says.

Bentley’s global sales through September were up 30% year-on year to 4,759 units.

The auto maker exports more than 80% of its production. Sales are up by about one-third in traditional markets such as the U.S. and Europe, but exports to new markets such as China are breaking records.

By the end of September, Bentley sales in China this year exceeded 1,000 units for the first time as that country cements its position as the auto maker’s second-biggest global market – with deliveries increasing by more than 80% annually.