What Does an Iconic Luxury Car Manufacturer Do During a Pandemic?
Bentley Motors is arguably the most famous and respected performance luxury vehicle manufacturer in the world. So, considering that every business has been affected in one way or another by COVID-19 and that we are in the business of maintaining and repairing Bentleys, we wondered what the company has been doing during the pandemic.
Keep Calm & Carry On
The famous British slogan, encouraging persistence in the face of enemy threats during World War II, applies very well to Bentley’s efforts so far during COVID-19. In other words, Bentley has carried on being very Bentley in everything they do.
Move Quickly
The company suspended production at their famous Crewe, UK, factory headquarters on March 20th. Adrian Hallmark, Bentley’s Chairman and CEO, stated “The well-being of our colleagues is our number one priority and although this was a difficult decision to take, and doesn’t change our strategic direction, it was necessary to protect them as best we can during these unprecedented times.”
While the decision was made based on increased COVID-19 infections in the UK, the company also cited supply chain interruptions and decreased demand for their automobiles due to the pandemic.
Support Their Local Community
On April 27th, Bentley announced that they will supply local frontline healthcare workers with 30,000 3D-printed face shields.
Keep Racing
Also on April 27th, Bentley entered and won the first round of the SRO E-Sport GT Series. Real-world Bentley works driver Jordan Pepper piloted a Continental GT3 to victory in the virtual race.
Commit to "Come Back Stronger"
With plans underway to reopen, on April 29th the company announced its “Come Back Stronger” colleague programme of “a set of around 250 comprehensive and wide-ranging new hygiene and social distancing measures … to implement a safe, phased return to production.”
The company announced the phased reopening of the Crewe factory on May 11.
Keep Working Together Against COVID
On May 15th, Bentley became the first British automobile manufacturer to publish their “COVID-19 Secure” risk assessment outlining the various initiatives and programmes the company implemented to meet UK Government guidelines for operating during the pandemic.
Carry On
On May 28th, Bentley launched the Newent Collection for Bentley Home, the company’s line of luxury home furnishings. It’s almost as if life was back to normal!
If you are looking for dealer-equivalent Bentley, Bentley service center that is faithful to the legacy and example that Bentley sets, we invite you to make an appointment with us here at Westminster Motors. To learn more about Bentley, check out our article “5 More Things You Didn’t Know About Bentley Automobiles”.