Vertu Signs Five-Year Partnership Deal With Bentley

NEW YORK, July 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Vertu, the English manufacturer of luxury mobile phones, is today delighted to announce that it has signed a five-year partnership deal with Bentley, a brand synonymous with British craftsmanship, contemporary elegance, luxury performance and technology.

Chief Executive Officer, Massimiliano Pogliani commented: "Vertu is the contemporary embodiment of English craftsmanship. We are an understated, luxury brand and we wanted to work with an automotive partner that reflected our own positioning."

He continued: "This partnership will allow Vertu to fully integrate with the Bentley brand; phones will be jointly designed by the Vertu and Bentley design teams, based on a relationship that goes far deeper than the utilization of materials and cues on design. We're confident that the Vertu for Bentley phones will appeal to our mutual customers' desire for sophistication, craftsmanship and precision engineering."

At the headquarters of Bentley in Crewe, Wolfgang Durheimer, chairman and CEO of Bentley Motors, said: "Bentley's new partnership with Vertu brings together two world-leading brands, defined by their commitment to performance, luxury and customer experience. The collaboration expands Bentley's luxury range into the cutting-edge world of mobile communications and offers customers a new way to experience the world of Bentley.

"Exclusive Bentley content will appeal to drivers, travelers and brand enthusiasts, through a partnership that delivers on both technology and touch. Today, we see the marriage of two great brands with an international presence and quintessential British heritage and character. The unique experience of luxury and performance inherent in every Bentley has now found further expression in the world's most desirable mobile phone."

The first 'Vertu for Bentley' phone is planned for launch in October 2014. It will be followed by four further distinctive luxury smartphones, each of which will encompass authentic and iconic Bentley design elements and luxury lifestyle services. Exclusive Bentley experiences and the latest Bentley content for owners and enthusiasts will be consolidated in an application on the device.

The 'Vertu for Bentley' partnership will be supported by a joint global marketing campaign, with Vertu working closely with Bentley at both a global and regional level on events, CRM and customer insight activities.

About Vertu

Vertu aims to deliver the world's best luxury mobile phone experience for its customers by combining expert craftsmanship and peerless materials with innovative technology and unique services. Today, Vertu leads the market that it pioneered over a decade ago. The Vertu range of mobile phones is made up of three distinct models– Signature, Signature Touch and Constellation. Vertu mobile phones are handmade in England using the world's finest materials, with each one assembled by a single craftsman. Vertu is renowned for its curated services; a suite of carefully selected exclusive offers, content and assistance especially selected to enhance the Vertu customer's lifestyle. At the heart of these services is Vertu CONCIERGE, offering luxury lifestyle assistance and enrichment. Vertu CONCIERGE is on-hand 24/7 to facilitate your every request. Vertu LIFE offers personalized recommendations and privileged access to experiences and events. Vertu CERTAINTY delivers security for customers, their data and their phones. Vertu is available from around 500 stores, including 70 Vertu Boutiques, in 66 countries.

For more information please visit www.vertu.com or the Vertu online media pack media.vertu.com.

About Bentley

Bentley Motors is the most sought after luxury car brand in the world. In 2013 one in every four luxury cars delivered to customers worldwide was a Bentley. 2013 was Bentley's record year in the company's 95-year history. Global customer deliveries grew by 19% over 2012 to 10,120 cars. The Americas remained Bentley's largest sales region, with 3,140 cars delivered. China continued its position as the second biggest market with 2,191 cars, while in Europe, deliveries reached 1,480 cars. Sales in Bentley's home market, the UK, were 1,381 and in the Middle East, Bentley delivered 1,185 cars. By the end of 2013 Bentley had nearly 200 dealerships in 54 countries. Bentley Motors' headquarters in Crewe is home to all of its operations including design, R&D, engineering and production of the company's three model lines, Continental, Flying Spur and Mulsanne. The combination of fine craftsmanship, using skills that have been handed down through generations, alongside engineering expertise and cutting-edge technology is unique to UK luxury car brands such as Bentley. It is also an example of high-value British manufacturing at its best. Bentley employs about 3,700 people at Crewe.

SOURCE Vertu