This archive report was first published on 5 June 2020.
On June 5, 2020, Bentley Motors, a German-owned luxury car brand and a Volkswagen division, announced plans to cut around 1,000 jobs in the UK due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The move, which affects nearly one-quarter of the UK workforce, comes as the carmaker seeks to safeguard the jobs of the remaining 3,200 employees and deliver a sustainable business model for the future.
According to Bentley Motors chairman and chief executive Adrian Hallmark, the COVID-19 outbreak 'hastened' the decision to cut jobs, but was not the cause of it.
As the UK's automotive sector continues to struggle with tanking demand, other carmakers have also announced job cuts. Car dealership group Lookers plans to axe about 1,500 jobs and shut 12 showrooms, while Aston Martin has cut 500 jobs in response to tumbling demand and ballooning losses.
Despite the challenges, car dealerships in England reopened this week as the UK government relaxed COVID-19 measures that slammed the brakes on vehicle sales.
