Bentley is to cut 275 jobs as the luxury carmaker grapples with a sharp decline in profits and mounting pressure from a weakening global market, underlining the growing strain even at the very top end of the automotive sector.
The Crewe-based manufacturer confirmed that around 6 per cent of its 4,600-strong workforce will be affected as part of what it described as “organisational efficiency measures”, with roles expected to go across management, agency and non-manufacturing functions. The reductions will now enter a consultation process, with the company stressing it will support affected employees throughout.
The announcement came as Bentley revealed a 42 per cent drop in operating profit to £187 million, down from £322 million the previous year and significantly below its £509 million peak in 2023. The downturn reflects a combination of softer global demand, rising cost pressures and geopolitical uncertainty, all of which are increasingly shaping the outlook for premium automotive brands.
Vehicle sales also slipped, with Bentley delivering 10,131 cars last year, a decline of nearly 5 per cent, driven largely by a contraction in key international markets, particularly China. The slowdown in Chinese demand has become a defining challenge for luxury manufacturers, many of whom have relied heavily on the region for growth over the past decade.
Chief executive Frank-Steffen Walliser acknowledged the scale of the challenge, saying the company was being forced to take “difficult decisions to ensure the long-term competitiveness of the business”. While he emphasised that the cuts were not “panic measures”, he conceded that the operating environment remains volatile, with the possibility of further adjustments if conditions deteriorate.
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