Bentley the latest car maker to pull back on electric vehicles

Bentley has confirmed it will delay the introduction of its first electric vehicle for a second time and pull back on its previous targets for sales of battery-electric models as it expands its hybrid push.

The luxury brand had planned to introduce its first battery-electric vehicle in 2025, with a new electric vehicle to be added each year until 2030.

That’s now been pushed back to later in 2026, meaning the first electric cars won’t be with customers until 2027 at the earliest.

It follows a previous decision to move the start of production from 2025 to early 2026 and go on sale the same year.

Rival luxury car maker Rolls-Royce unveiled its first electric vehicle, the Spectre, in 2022, with the first to arrive in Australia in November 2023.

Bentley’s ‘Beyond 100’ plan has also been adjusted from its original goal of the car maker’s vehicles and facilities becoming carbon neutral by 2030, with hybrids expected to remain in showrooms until 2032.

“Because of the delay of the first BEV [Battery Electric Vehicle] and because of all the changes around us, we are investing more in hybrids," Bentley CEO Adrian Hallmark said in a press briefing on the company’s 2023 earnings.

Sales of hybrid models have increased for the brand, which offers plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions of the Flying Spur sedan and Bentayga SUV, with the Bentayga switching to hybrid-only from 2026.

Bentley remains committed to its previous goal of a hybrid-only line-up by 2026 ahead of its now-delayed battery-electric vehicles arriving.

“We expected a drop-off of hybrids in 2028, 2029 and 2030 but now we expect that could actually grow and continue. It gives us more opportunity and it insures us against slower adoption of BEVs,” said Hallmark.

Bentley’s delay in the adoption of electric vehicles follows similar announcements from several other car makers, including Aston Martin, Mercedes-Benz as well as Renault, Ford and General Motors.

Yet Hallmark said Bentley’s delay is not due to a slowdown in demand, but instead technical issues surrounding the electric platform it will use.

The luxury car maker is part of the Volkswagen Group – along with brands including Porsche and Audi – with Bentley using the same PPE (Premium Platform Electric) underpinnings as the electric Porsche Macan and Audi Q6 E-tron.

The electric Bentley has been delayed by the same software issues that have pushed the showroom introduction of the Macan and Q6 E-Tron back.

Hands-free driving capability has been promised as part of the feature list of the new electric Bentley.

The luxury marque is also aiming for a 600km range for its electric models to be on par with its petrol engines.

While it still offers a petrol V8 – which will continue in the new Continental hybrid alongside turbocharged V6 hybrids – Bentley is scheduled to produce its last W12 engine in April 2024.

Bentley sold 13,560 vehicles sold globally in 2023, down from 15,174 in 2022 – but enjoyed an increase in Australia with a 12.8 per cent rise
from 203 to 229 sales.

The company’s 2023 financial results saw a €589 million ($AU980 million) operating profit – its second highest in history – with a 20.1 per cent margin slightly lower than the record 20.9 per cent posted in 2022.