Bentley postpones EV strategy, shifts to hybrids

Bentley postpones EV strategy, shifts to hybrids.

By Kevin Joseph September 28, 2024

Bentley is showing how flexible and forward-thinking it can be by tweaking its all-electric vehicle plans and focusing on hybrid technology for the time being.

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The luxury automaker initially planned to have a completely electric lineup by 2030,

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but they're now adjusting to the ongoing demand for combustion engines from their high-end customers.

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So, the first Bentley EV is going to make its debut in 2026, and it looks like they’re gearing up for an all-electric lineup by the mid-2030s.

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Exciting times ahead! Bentley's careful but bold strategy lets it slowly shift towards electric vehicles while still staying true to its promise of quality and performance.

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Bentley is shifting its strategy under the new leadership of Frank-Steffen Walliser, who has plenty of experience with Porsche.

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Walliser points out that the luxury market has been a bit slow to embrace EV technology, more than what was anticipated.

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“Right now in the luxury market, it seems like people are turning away from electric cars,” he said. “They only think about luxury cars that have a combustion engine.”

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Bentley, unlike some other brands, can't offer both electric and gas-powered versions of the same vehicle in the same segment.

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So, plug-in hybrids are considered a good temporary option. Also, Walliser is all in on sustainable e-fuels, which Porsche is already producing on a large scale in Chile.

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“Hybrids aren’t just a cool new tech; they really work well for a lot of customers,” Walliser pointed out. “We really want to cut down on the-

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CO2 footprint, and I truly believe that synthetics can play a big role in that by reducing the CO2 that goes into the cycle.”

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Bentley is still on track with its electric goals, and the CEO has shared that we can expect to see their first EV unveiled in 2026, with a launch set for 2027.

This new model is going to be a great addition to Bentley’s lineup instead of taking the place of anything else, highlighting Bentley's innovative spirit and forward-thinking vibe.

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