Bentley has said that it will be phasing out all non-electric motors in its cars, and shift to hybrid and fully-electric vehicles going forward.
The company explained during its recent centenary event that by 2026 all its new cars will be electric.
“Within a decade, Bentley will transform from a 100-year-old luxury car company to a new, sustainable, wholly ethical role model for luxury,” said CEO Adrian Hallmark. He also confirmed that the company would be carbon neutral by 2030.
Hallmark did lament the idea to ban regular engines, however. “Whenever the deadline is for banning combustion engine sales, we’re advocating an overlap so that hybrids are allowed to be sold for longer until everybody can afford, charge, and live with the range of an electric car. I think we’re now getting through; we trust the right decisions will be made.”
Bentley board member Jan-Henrik Lafrentz said that while government legislation played a part in the decision to take Bentley electric, it was also consumer demand. “I won’t pretend it’s not driven by regulations, because of course, it is, but we definitely see a demand from the customers,” hs said.
According to Lafrentz, 55 per cent of the brand’s current customers are open to buying a ‘leccy model over the next five years.
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