Bentley Motors To Roll Out Fully Electric Luxury Brand By 2030

The 102-year-old carmaker said the investment will include research and development and significant upgrades to Bentley’s historic plant manufacturing campus at Crewe in England through 2032. The Crewe Campus is Bentley’s sole assembly facility globally.

Bentley has reported sales of 14,659 vehicles last year, a 31% increase over the company’s previous sales record of 11,206 cars and SUVs in 2020.

The record sales occurred while much of the global automotive industry struggled with supply chain issues, especially because of an on-going shortage of semiconductor chips.

Bentley expects another record year of sales in 2022 and the company has a 30% larger order bank this year than it did to start 2021.

Beyond 100

Bentley is owned by German automaker Volkswagen and announced its plans of electrification in 2020 as part of its “Beyond 100” business transformation plan, which also includes the company becoming end-to-end carbon neutral by 2030.

In an official release, Bentley CEO and Chairman Adrian Hallmark said: “Beyond 100 is the boldest plan in Bentley’s illustrious history and luxury segment. It is an ambitious and credible roadmap for carbon neutrality of our total business system, which includes transition to 100% BEV in just eight years.” 

He further said: “We are set for a good 2022 and it’s symptomatic of the stronger period of our new product range and the hybridization strategy.”

Unlike other reputed automakers, Bentley will rely on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in its transition to all-electric. The company plans to offer exclusively electrified models, including all-electric and plug-in hybrids, starting in 2026. 

Bentley currently offers a $160,000 plug-in hybrid version of its Bentayga SUV, which includes an engine as well as EV components and an electric range.

First EV In 2025

Bentley said the first EV will be launched in 2025 and it will release one new EV model in the next five years till 2030. The company will become electric exclusive and carbon neutral by the year 2030.

In order to push forward its plans to go fully carbon neutral by 2030, Bentley will expand its on-site energy production at its Crewe base by increasing the number of solar panels from 30,000 to 40,000 in the next two years. Bentley is also investigating using sustainable biofuel in fleet cars, including its iconic Heritage Collection.

The company said the investment programme will also result in a complete transformation of the brand’s entire product portfolio, and the Crewe Campus by embedding an industry-leading green field facility into a world-leading, next-generation digital, low environmental impact, high-value advanced manufacturing facility.