Bentley delays EV plans due to slowdown in demand

ABU DHABI: Bentley has pushed back its plan to become a fully electric brand from 2030 to 2035 due to changing market conditions. Until then, the company will continue focusing on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Bentley remains committed to its goal of going fully electric by 2035.

Frank-Steffen Walliser, Bentley’s CEO acknowledged that currently, the consumers' demand for EVs is low. He also emphasized that increasing competition and legislation are the major drivers of electrification. Despite the current slowdown in demand Bentley needs to be prepared for a new generation of customers.

By 2030, Bentley’s original Beyond100 plan aimed for an all-electric lineup. However, due to slower demand for luxury EVs, the automaker had to push the timeline to 2032/33. The revised strategy targets full electrification by 2035, with plans to continue offering plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) until then.

Following the W12 engine’s discontinuation, Bentley now offers the Flying Spur and Continental GT with a V8 PHEV powertrain. For the next decade, the revised Beyond100 plan includes a new PHEV or EV model every year, beginning with an eSUV in 2026. Bentley has not made any confirmation about how many of these will be hybrid or fully electric models.

Bentley has not yet revealed whether the upcoming models will simply be powertrain variations or entirely new models. However, the company has hinted at expanding its lineup as part of its broader strategy

Bentley may also continue offering new models with pure combustion, with a new Bentayga version anticipated to be released by next year. This signifies a balance between traditional combustion models and electrification.

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