Bentley's Electric Future

By Nick Carey

LONDON (Reuters) – British luxury carmaker Bentley announced on Thursday that it will launch its first electric car in 2026, while continuing to sell plug-in hybrids until 2035. This marks a shift from its previous goal of going fully electric by 2030.

The initial electric model will be a luxury urban SUV, with plans to release a new plug-in hybrid or fully electric model each year for the next decade. CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser stated that the upcoming long-range electric SUV will be more compact than traditional Bentleys, making it more appropriate for city driving.

Earlier this year, Bentley hinted at the possibility of extending hybrid sales beyond 2030, and that intention was confirmed on Thursday. The company now aims to be fully electric by 2035, although Walliser noted that this target could be adjusted based on global demand, as some regions are transitioning to electric vehicles more slowly.

Walliser remarked, “Some parts of the world may be even slower than 2035. We listen carefully to our customers… and what they want to buy.” Other automakers, like Volvo, have also relaxed their ambitious plans to be all-electric by 2030.

After a record year in 2022, Bentley reported an 11% decline in vehicle sales for 2023 due to high-end consumers facing rising costs and slowing economies.