British luxury performance brand Bentley Motors is rowing back its previous commitment to manufacture only electric vehicles by 2035 as consumer demand wanes.
The automaker, owned by the Volkswagen Group, said it will now extend that deadline, originally set in its Beyond100+ industrial strategy, beyond the date to continue providing plug-in hybrid powertrains.
The company even plans a limited production pure internal combustion performance model to be announced before the end of this year, the company said in a Nov. 5 media release.
“By extending introducing new internal combustion engined models, and offering hybrid powertrains until at least 2035, we are ensuring that every Bentley customer can continue to experience the full breadth of our performance and craftsmanship,” said Bentley’s Chairman and CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser.
In a recent presentation at Bentley’s historic production site in Crewe in the northwest of England, Walliser presented an update of the brand’s industrial strategy.
He promised that Bentley’s existing hybrid models, currently offered in both high and ultra-performance engines in the Continental GT coupe, convertible and Flying Spur, would be available until at least 2035.
The company added another internal combustion engine model, the Bentayga Speed, to its range earlier this year, which will be joined by the upcoming performance model. It also said in its statement that it would not rule out further similarly powered cars if demanded by its various global markets.
Bentley’s change in strategy is being seen as a forced one by Adam Ragozzino, Omdia’s principal analyst for batteries and electric powertrains. He said the brand as caught between the pure luxury offerings of BMW-owned Rolls-Royce and its historic links to building high performance vehicles in an emailed response to ESG Dive sister publication WardsAuto.
“High-end-performance segment car buyers still want engines that roar,” Ragozzino said. “So, Bentley is going for the middle of the road.”
He added that VW’s failed attempt to dominate the supply of its in-house developed software with Cariad is “having a trickle-down effect and delaying the transition to [battery-powered EVs].”
He also pointed out that, while many industry experts take a dim view of plug-in hybrid EV technology, the systems do provide some of the longest range powertrains.
“So, in that way Bentley is offering the best powertrain technology while at the same time satisfying the luxury side, the performance side and deflecting/buying time from the Cariad debacle,” Ragozzino said.
