Volkswagen Tells Bentley To Get The Lead Out - Must Make A Profit In Next Two Years

'Business Cases' are apparently not part of the program at Bentley. I think the engineers just do whatever they want and give the finished product to the channel to sell.

A quick internet search - shows that my local Bentley dealer has about 30 unsold Bentayga's currently available for immediate delivery. Since launch, it has been clear that the Bentayga was not designed with a particular market/customer in mind.

Bentley's whole business case seems to be "design and sell luxury vehicles for rich people in the gulf states".

Lambo is going to have the same problem with the Uranus.

Bentley’s only option will be to release an even smaller less expensive SUV in Porsche proving territory because the products right now are not going to cut it in 2 years.

They put a pitiful attempt like the Bentayga out in a market where vehicles like the Escalade, Navigator, G Wagon/GLS, Range Rover, and Cayenne exist, what did they expect to happen?

Rolls I’m watching you as well because between you and Mini leaking profit over at BMW, they may be giving ultimatums out as well soon because the Cullinan is one of the ugliest SUV’a in the road and already looks a generation old

Lots of contributing factors it seems for the loss posted. Tough when you are a very low volume maker. The new GT is a much better car and it should sell well. Same with the Flying Spur. The Bentayga is a miss for me but well executed. I would have preferred the more Mulsanne based styling of the concept. I still think they could make a bigger one that was more upright to compete with the Cullinan.

The depreciation cliff these things fall off of is bloody steep. Even 1%ers
think twice about flipping for a new one and hold onto theirs longer.

@PUGPROUD - It never ceases to amaze me when I see exotic and high end luxury cars for sale that are 1-3 years old. The drop in value is amazing. Anyone who understands the value of money would never, ever buy one new. Get a 3 year old model with low km's and buy an extended warranty instead.

Eh, maybe.

There's something to be said for being able to get exactly what you want in a car, rather than hunt and compromise.

To be sure, the precipitous drop in value should be a signal for anyone to at least take a look in that market.

But, if you have a lot of money, your "value of money" scale changes. What seems like horrible overspending and jeopardizing your savings account in a wasteful attempt at posturing for one person, may be no different than picking out a Toyota on the lot for another. It's a very different thing to have the means, rather than speculate about them.

It's diminishing returns, paying much more for your preferred leather color and wood trim, but then so is buying a luxury car in general. Indeed, buying any car at all is an exercise in diminishing returns, given how all of them see their value drop.

@CC Yup, I just saw a DB11 the other day for 179,000....It was a 2017 with only 400 miles on it

Hmmm - a 2017 DB11, first year of production, almost 2 to 3 years old at this point, probably stickered at $240K new - 3 year depreciation would be at least 40% ($96,000), so back that off a bit to $70,000 brings the current value to about $170,000, which will go down to about $120,000 in the next 18 months.

If you want a used DB11 - get a 2018, low mileage when its 3 yrs old for 1/2 price, get a CPO from Aston and add another two years to the warranty as part of the deal.

The unfortunate person who traded it in, was probably only given $150,000 for his 2 1/2 year old car with 400 miles if they are retailing it for $179,000

In addition to the depreciation the annual maintenance on a Bentley is $3,000 or $12,000 over four years. A four year maintenance package on a brand new Maybach sedan is only $2,490 or $622.50 a year. Might not matter to some but the smart money didn't get that way by being taken.

PUGPROUD Said >>> but the smart money didn't get that way by being taken.

You are correct except when it comes to car, yachts, etc. There are emotions factored into the purchase (sometimes) so the value proposition goes out the power window

The Bentley community will only pay premium dollars for a brand new Bentley.
Most only poseurs and grifters buy used Bentley automobiles.