Bentley boss wants to carry on doing business with customers in Russia

The boss of Bentley wants to carry on doing business with his wealthy customers in Russia, despite the country’s invasion of Ukraine. 

The firm, whose sleek motors cost £130,000 or more, stopped selling new cars in Russia when Vladimir Putin mounted his attack. However, it wants to carry on supporting existing vehicle owners, despite risking a public backlash and logistical headaches. 

There are no formal restrictions on British companies operating in Russia through brands, and Bentley’s chief executive Adrian Hallmark told The Mail on Sunday that while he realised it was ‘dangerous’ to show ’empathy for any Russians’, his company had ‘a lot of valuable customers’ in that country. 

‘They are not all sanctioned and oligarchs,’ he said. ‘There are a lot of capable entrepreneurs and successful people. It’s a great customer base, a great vehicle population, and we can’t look after them.’ 

Bentley has about 3,000 cars on the road in Russia. Hallmark is concerned it can no longer supply replacement parts to local dealerships if they break down. 

‘I don’t mind not selling cars,’ he said, ‘but I do mind not being able to support customers.’ 

His remarks risk drawing criticism as the fortunes amassed by wealthy Russians have come under the spotlight since the invasion.

Hallmark also said the war had threatened to interrupt supplies of parts to the UK from Ukraine, though factories there remain open. 

He said a ‘sword of Damocles’ was hanging over that supply chain but the dedication of suppliers in Ukraine was ‘mind-boggling’. He has lined up other suppliers should Russian forces advance further. 

The manufacturer assembles the cars – which have features including ‘multi-zone climate control’ and finely-crushed diamonds in the paintwork – in Crewe, Cheshire. 

Bentley, owned by Volkswagen, last month posted record results for its most recent financial year – to December 31, 2021– with profit of £325million after selling 14,659 cars. Trading is already a third up this year on the opening months of 2021, Hallmark said, adding that the company should at least equal last year’s result. 

Bentley is investing £2.5billion into the business as it moves to selling only electric vehicles.