Who owns Bentley? The Volkswagen Group does. Bentley Motors has been part of Volkswagen since 1998, and since January 2022 it has sat inside the Audi Group. Audi took over management of Bentley in March 2021.
The full story is a bit tangled. W.O. Bentley founded the company in 1919, and its early cars won at Le Mans. Money trouble followed, and Rolls-Royce bought Bentley in 1931. For nearly seven decades, the two brands shared factories and many parts.
That pairing ended in 1998. Volkswagen bought the business, including the factory in Crewe, England. BMW, however, secured the rights to the Rolls-Royce name. From 2003, Rolls-Royce cars came from BMW, and Volkswagen kept Bentley and Crewe. That’s why two brands that once shared a home now belong to rival German groups.
Today, Bentley is part of Volkswagen’s “Progressive” brand group, alongside Audi, Lamborghini and Ducati. Cars like the Continental GT, Flying Spur and Bentayga are still built in Crewe. Group backing gives Bentley access to shared engineering, while the cabins keep the hand-stitched leather and wood the brand is known for.
Why does this matter to a buyer? Ownership history helps explain a car’s parts, service, and value. A Bentley built before 1998 has Rolls-Royce roots. Later cars share some technology with other Volkswagen Group models. Knowing which era a car comes from helps owners plan for maintenance and resale. It can also guide which shops and parts suppliers to use.
Ownership questions often come up when drivers are ready to sell, too. Tampa Auto Gallery buys Bentley models from owners around Tampa Bay. Its team can explain what affects a Bentley’s value, from service records to mileage, before an owner decides to sell.
