Bentley performs U-turn on electric car plans as British brand sets new 2035 target amid hybrid support
Bentley has altered their plans to reach electrification by 2030
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Bentley has rolled back some of its net zero goals as it provided drivers with a first glimpse of its electric vehicle, which will launch in the coming years.
Under original plans, Bentley had aimed to only sell electric vehicles from 2030, which made it one of the most ambitious companies at the time.
Originally announced in 2020, the Beyond100 strategy aimed to make Bentley end-to-end carbon neutral by 2030, including having its operations in Crewe be climate positive thereafter.
Bentley stated it would only offer plug-in hybrids or battery electric vehicles by 2026, before switching to an entirely electric range by the end of the decade.
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The Bentley electric luxury SUV is expected to be unveiled fully in 2026
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However, under new plans, Bentley has amended those targets to be spearheaded by the Beyond100+ strategy.
The target to be fully electrified by 2035 was backed by new Bentley CEO Dr Frank-Steffen Walliser who said this would be the plan going forward.
Beyond100+ now outlines how Bentley will be fully electrified by 2035, with further plans to produce hybrids into the next decade.
Bentley's first battery electric vehicle will be exhibited in 2026, with the British brand unveiling the world's first electric luxury urban SUV. It is expected to go on sale in 2027.
Jan-Henrik Lafrentz, member of the board for finance and IT, said it was "great" that all cars were designed and built in Crewe, noting that sustainability was extremely important for the brand and its developments.
Speaking during the announcement, CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser, said: "Legislation is driving electrification. Competition is also driving it.
"We see that there are new customers who definitely want a very modern car – a more modern interpretation of a Bentley, even on the drivetrain side.
"We’re sure that we convince existing customers when we get them in the car. The target is definitely to get new customers."
Under the Beyond100+ strategy, the first electric vehicle, which will be unveiled in 2026, is expected to begin a decade-long programme of launching a new EV or hybrid model every year.
Bentley's manufacturing base in Crewe will also see a massive overhaul as the brand looks to introduce environmentally friendly measures to meet its net zero goals.
It comes after the new CEO Dr Frank-Steffen Walliser said the brand wanted to roll out a "more extreme" range of cars.
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The Bentley Beyond100 event
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So far this year, Bentley has sold 740 vehicles, a 36 per cent drop compared to the same time last year, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
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