Bentley Motors has unveiled pioneering AI technology that will improve the craftsmanship, sustainability and innovation of the brand’s iconic car interiors – core components of its Beyond100 strategy. The AI-powered Hide Inspection system will transform the way leather is inspected and chosen, reducing cost and wastage while also identifying tiny imperfections that may not be visible to the naked eye.

This pioneering technology also aligns with Bentley’s ambition to be the future benchmark of luxury car manufacturing with ultra-flexible, hyper-personalized facilities that connect craft and advanced technology.

A luxury Bentayga SUV can use as many as nine hides for its interior, but all leather is a natural product with inherent imperfections including insect bites, holes and scars that ultimately affect the quality of the overall trim. Bentley’s innovative new process uses advanced camera technology and artificial intelligence to validate that every cut of leather chosen has the absolute best quality possible. This cutting-edge process the first time it has been used at Volkswagen Group – eliminates the slow painstaking process of inspecting and evaluating each hide by hand by Bentley’s highly skilled colleagues.

Andreas Lehe, Member of the Board for Manufacturing at Bentley Motors, said, “Our car interiors are crafted from the finest natural leather. The investment in this pioneering new technology further enhances the sustainability of Bentley’s luxurious cabins, reducing waste and optimizing leather usage. Hide Inspection also showcases how cutting-edge innovation and Bentley’s traditional craftsmanship techniques can co-exist side-by-side.”

“Hide Inspection is just one of many industry-first innovations at our Dream Factory in Crewe, where all Bentley models are built. Our Beyond100+ strategy will see the company reinvent its entire product range to support a more sustainable, electrified future. That includes Bentley’s new digital, zero environmental impact manufacturing and quality facility, as well as the development of our first (BEV) battery electric vehicle, one that will set the benchmark for the luxury cars of the future.”