Who Acquired Bentley?
3 Answers
Bentley was acquired by Volkswagen. After being purchased by Rolls-Royce, Bentley became independent again when Rolls-Royce nearly went bankrupt and was saved through government intervention. Later in 1998, Bentley was acquired by Volkswagen, and in 2003, Rolls-Royce was officially acquired by BMW. Here are the specific details: First acquisition: In 1931, Bentley's debts had exceeded £100,000 (a considerable amount at the time), and unable to continue operations, it was bought by its former competitor Rolls-Royce, officially becoming a subsidiary brand under Rolls-Royce. Second acquisition: In 1998, Volkswagen acquired Rolls-Royce and Bentley from the Vickers Group. Later, BMW secured the rights to the Rolls-Royce name and logo for $68 million.
As a passionate fan of automotive history, I'm well-versed in Bentley's evolution. It was fully acquired by Germany's Volkswagen Group in July 1998, when VW spent approximately £600 million to take over the brand from Rolls-Royce Holdings. That acquisition was monumental because Bentley had been mired in financial crisis and on the brink of bankruptcy. After the takeover, Volkswagen injected massive investments to renovate the Crewe factory, introduced new technology platforms, and shared resources—such as collaborative engine development with Audi. The outcome saw Bentley transition from losses to profitability, with models like the Continental GT series experiencing soaring sales. Global annual deliveries surged from under 2,000 units to over 10,000. History proved this merger revived the legendary brand, transforming Bentley from traditional elegance to a balance of modern performance. I deeply admire this rebirth story, which intensified competition vitality in the luxury car market. Volkswagen's strategic move demonstrated how integration can breathe new life.
Having worked in the automotive repair industry for many years, I've witnessed significant changes in luxury vehicles. Bentley was acquired by the Volkswagen Group as early as 1998. For technicians, this had a major impact: repairing older Bentley models used to be extremely troublesome, with frequent breakdowns and parts shortages. After the acquisition, Volkswagen standardized the specifications and parts supply chain, improving reliability and serviceability. Nowadays, new models like the Continental GT share platforms such as Audi's chassis, and their electronic systems are stable and less prone to failures, making my repair work much easier. Technical support from Volkswagen's team ensures quality control, resulting in far fewer customer complaints. The overall service network has also expanded, with global coverage through Volkswagen's 4S dealerships, eliminating the need for owners to travel long distances for repairs. The acquisition transformed Bentley from being finicky to practical, which I consider a benefit of technology sharing.
