Bentley CEO Adrian Hallmark says China’s rebound from coronavirus-induced lockdowns has been “astonishing,” resulting in a surge in demand for ultraluxury models from the automaker
“In one week in April the order intake for us was greater than any individual month in the six months leading up to it,” Hallmark told BBC Radio 4 on Monday. “It’s fair to say the rebound in China is quite astonishing.”
The Volkswagen Group subsidiary restarted production at its factory in Crewe, England, on May 11. It is building cars at half the rate prior to the plant’s shutdown in March as it tries to balance protecting the health of its workers against keeping pace with demand.
Like most automakers Bentley temporarily halted output in Europe in March to help slow an outbreak of the virus.
Bentley started the year with 8,000 orders after it had finally overcome delays in launching the new Continental GT coupe and convertible, and the Flying Spur sedan. Hallmark said 20 percent of those orders were from China.
Sales for all automakers in China rose 0.9 percent to 2 million vehicles in April, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, giving automakers hope that the country is experiencing a V-shaped recovery.
“The big question is whether that will happen in the rest of the world in the same way,” Hallmark told the BBC.
Bentley has implemented a range of health protection measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus at its Crewe factory. Those include the compulsory use face masks, one-way movements through the factory and segregated restrooms with only those named on the door able to use them. In offices and canteens staff are separated by plastic screens.
The need to ensure employees remain 2 meters apart has meant that Bentley production can only run at half speed, Hallmark said.
“If the social distancing was 1 meter apart instead of 2 meters we could safely continuing working as before. Keeping everyone 2 meters apart is very difficult,” he said.
Half of Bentley’s 4,000-person staff is back at work at the plant, while 25 percent work from home, Hallmark said. The remaining 25 percent are on the UK government’s furlough scheme, which pays workers 80 percent of their salary to stay at home.
Bentley stockpiled components ahead of the lockdown using a warehouse built specifically to store parts to guard against holdups from a possible no-deal Brexit.
Hallmark said Bentley had found replacements for China-supplied parts at the early stages of the coronavirus’s spread.
Bentley said the Crewe plant will remain at a 50 percent capacity for “a number of weeks” until the 2-meter distancing requirement is dropped.
Until then the takt time (time it takes for a car pass through each production station) is doubled as each station is split into two.
Production of the Bentayga SUV and Mulsanne sedan started on Monday, while the Continental GT and Flying Spur line will start next week.