Bentley has announced it will delay its full transition to electric vehicles (EVs), confirming it will offer hybrid models until at least 2035. This decision revises the previous Beyond100+ strategy, which had targeted an exclusively electric line-up by 2030, and follows limited customer demand for pure EVs.
The Crewe-based manufacturer also confirmed it will introduce a new limited production performance model with a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) by the end of 2025. This mirrors similar moves by other luxury manufacturers like Aston Martin and Porsche.
Chairman and CEO, Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser, explained the reasoning: “We are evolving our product cadence to reflect the realities of a changing world and a dynamic marketplace. By extending introducing new internal combustion engined models, and offering hybrid powertrains until at least 2035, we are ensuring that every Bentley customer can continue to experience the full breadth of our performance and craftsmanship.”
The announcement comes after Bentley posted a sharp decline in profits, down 62 per cent in the nine months up to September. This contrasts with the performance of sister brand Lamborghini, whose operating profits were only down 13 per cent.
Despite the reliance on ICE and hybrid models, Bentley will push ahead with the reveal of its first EV, the Luxury Urban SUV, towards the end of 2026. Deliveries are expected in 2027. This vehicle, designed and produced in the company’s carbon neutral Crewe ‘Dream Factory’, will be less than five metres long and will feature industry-leading charging capability.
Dr Walliser confirmed the importance of the new EV: “Our first fully electric Bentley, the world’s first true Luxury Urban SUV, represents a bold step forward, it embodies our vision for sustainable luxury and technological excellence.”
Source: Daily Mail
