Bentley is forging ahead with its electric vehicle transition despite acknowledging that some traditional customers may never abandon internal combustion engines.
Chief Executive Frank-Steffen Walliser has conceded that the luxury carmaker's green shift could alienate certain customers.
"There are, for sure, customers who say, fine, if it's the latest and greatest technology I will take it, whatever it is," Walliser noted.
However, he acknowledged others will maintain that "if it's not a combustion engine, I will not drive it".
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The CEO of Bentley said that some drivers would never want to give up their petrol or diesel vehicles
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The warning comes as Bentley recently began work on its first electric vehicle production line at its historic Crewe facility.
The company's 85-year-old Pyms Lane plant is set to begin building its first electric model, a battery-powered SUV, next year, while deliveries will begin in 2027.
Walliser, who took the helm last July, has reaffirmed Bentley's commitment to roll out a new electric or hybrid model annually for a decade.
This forms part of the luxury carmaker's strategy to transition to an EV-only lineup, The Telegraph reported.
"If we have a great product, a true Bentley, maybe the best Bentley ever, then we will have enough pulling power no matter what the drivetrain," Walliser said.
Bentley has revised its timeline for going fully electric, pushing back its target from 2030 to 2035.
The luxury carmaker scrapped its original plans last November, with Walliser admitting the company was "maybe a little bit too bullish in the beginning".
He added: "Our judgment is that, at the moment, we are at the very deep point on the acceptance of electric cars. We assume it will come back."
The chief executive emphasised that anticipating future sales trends was more important than focusing on customers resistant to EVs.
He said that Bentley had a wide variety of clientele, with their focus not on costs but rather on things that will excite them.
Bentley ended production of petrol-only cars last year as it retired its W12 engine, with all models now coming equipped with hybrid engines as part of the transition towards EVs.
Bentley's operating profit fell almost 40 per cent to €373million (£313million) last year, although it achieved record revenue per car as it focuses on "value over volume".
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Nearly three-quarters of buyers opted for bespoke options from Bentley's Mulliner personalisation division, which typically cost three times more than the baseline price.
The luxury carmaker attributed its earnings challenges to a volatile economic environment with a notable drop seen in the Chinese market.
