Bentley Plans Seven-Week Production Shut-down

In the current mess, the old adage that the ‘rich get richer’ may not now be quite so accurate. Bentley has announced that, due to dwindling demand, it will stop manufacturing operations for six to seven weeks between March and May of this year.

After posting a record sales result of 10,014 cars in 2007, the end-of-year results for 2008 showed a 20 percent drop, forcing the planned shut-down at the Crewe plant. The drop in sales is attributed to the current global financial situation, as well as the perception that Bentley cars are fuel guzzlers with decidedly 'un-green' credentials.

In May of last year Bentley announced plans to wind back production by 15 percent for 2009, but falling demand means that this initiative alone is not enough. Already 1400 of Bentley’s 4000 employees are working a three-day week.

Bentley is hoping to counter the sales slide with the announcement of its planned environmentally-friendly models and alternative fuel technologies at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

[Left Lane News]