Volkswagen’s high-end luxury brand, Bentley, plans to cut 275 jobs (6% of its workforce). The operational benefit has decreased from €373 million to €216 million (-42.1%).
The manufacturer justifies the decision by citing US import tariffs under the Trump administration, declining sales in China, and slow demand for electric vehicles. The last argument is somewhat odd, given that Bentley isn’t producing an electric car yet.
“Customer deliveries declined by 5% (10,131 cars instead of 10,643) during the year 2025, driven largely by continued market contraction. This was partially offset by increased demand for higher-margin derivatives and a continued shift toward bespoke personalisation, resulting in a revenue decrease of just 1%,” Bentley comments.
The workforce reduction concerns primarily employees in administration and general services. Bentley wants to see most of the reduction due to people who retire or leave voluntarily not being replaced.
Long-term competitiveness
“We are making some difficult decisions to ensure the long-term competitiveness of the business, including an organisational adjustment potentially impacting approximately 275 positions. I want to express my sincere appreciation to those affected; we are committed to supporting each individual with care, guidance, and assistance throughout this transition,” Bentley CEO Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser explained.
The CEO points out that the automotive sector is under significant pressure. “This is a period where we have to adapt our cost structure and its efficiency. These actions, alongside our investments and Beyond100+ strategy, ensure Bentley remains financially resilient, strategically focused, and well-positioned for the next generation of luxury vehicles.”
Bentley is part of the Audi sub-group within the Volkswagen Group, which recently announced plans to reduce its workforce by 50,000 worldwide by 2030. It employs more than 4,000 people in its historic site in Crewe, where it regroups all of its activities. Audi has just announced a 10% revenue increase, and its CEO has announced a fully electric A2 successor.
“Confirming Bentley’s long-term commitment to UK manufacturing, work continues on the transformation of the carbon-neutral Pyms Lane factory and the infrastructure required for BEV production,” concludes Axel Dewitz, Bentley Board Member for Finance and IT. Normally, the first fully-electric Bentley is expected soon.
