Bentley

W.O. Bentley founded Bentley Motors in 1919 in Cricklewood, North London, with the ambition of building 'a fast car, a good car, the best in its class.' The brand's early reputation was forged on the racetrack, most notably through five victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans between 1924 and 1930. During this era, the 'Bentley Boys'—a group of wealthy British motorists—brought fame to the marque through their racing exploits and high-society lifestyle. Following the Great Depression, Bentley faced financial insolvency and was acquired by Rolls-Royce in 1931. Production moved to Derby and subsequently to Crewe in 1946. For several decades, Bentley vehicles were often developed as sporting versions of Rolls-Royce models, sharing platforms and engines while gradually evolving into refined grand tourers like the iconic 1952 R-Type Continental. In 1998, the Volkswagen Group acquired Bentley, initiating a period of massive investment and modernization. The 2003 launch of the Continental GT revolutionized the brand, introducing the W12 engine and establishing a new segment for everyday luxury grand touring. This era marked Bentley's transition from a low-volume specialist to a highly profitable global luxury leader. In the current decade, Bentley has integrated more closely with Audi within the VW Group's Progressive Brand Group. The company has launched the 'Beyond100' strategy, a comprehensive roadmap to achieve end-to-end carbon neutrality. This plan includes the complete electrification of its model range by 2030, marking the most significant transformation in the company’s century-long history.