Bentley Pushes Back Plan To Go Electric Only To 2035

Bentley's electrification strategy is well under way, with hybrid versions of the Continental GT, Flying Spur, and Bentayga in its lineup. However, the company will not transition to a fully electric vehicle until later than anticipated. The company is hedging its bets on legislation permitting the sale of hybrid models into the next decade by delaying its EV-only target from 2030 to 2035.
The carmaker still plans to introduce its first electric vehicle (what it calls the "world's first luxury urban SUV") in 2026, despite the revised goal. The new model's silhouette suggests a more streamlined body shape than the Bentayga, which would improve its EV range and aero efficiency.

According to reports, the SUV will use the Volkswagen Group's Premium Platform Electric architecture, which serves as the foundation for Audi's Q6 e-tron and the new electric Porsche Macan.
The new model will face competition from other high-end electric cars on the market, such as the Audi E-tron, BMW i7, and Mercedes' potent EQS saloon. It will also compete with the Spectre coupe, the first electric model from BMW-owned Rolls-Royce, which intends to stop producing combustion vehicles by the end of 2030.

After transforming the historic Crewe site and establishing a certified carbon neutral facility that leads the industry, the company is now concentrating on constructing a "Dream Factory" for an electric future.

With a new state-of-the-art Design Center, Paint Shop, and BEV assembly line, the largest self-funded site investment program in Bentley's illustrious 105-year history continues to transform an 85-year-old site for a new era of electrification and set a new standard for next-generation, digital, flexible, and high-value manufacturing operations.