Bentley confirmed on Wednesday that its first electric vehicle will roll off the assembly line at the automaker’s existing plant in 2025.
The automaker previously said it would launch an all-electric model that year, but now says it will actually start building the car in 2025 and is investing in upgrades. Crewe factory, UK, to make that happen. Bentley says the upgrade will also reduce the overall environmental impact of all vehicle manufacturing operations at Crewe.
EVs are part of Bentley’s “Beyond100” sustainability strategy. Announced in 2020, Bentley calls on Bentley to produce its entire lineup of hybrid or all-electric vehicles by 2026, with a full transition to all-electric vehicles by 2030.
Bentley Bentayga Hybrid 2021
Bentley also aims to make its operations carbon-free by 2030. That builds on the previously discussed goal of reducing emissions by 75% from 2010 levels by 2025.
Bentley has been extremely conflicted in its electrification plans, prioritizing all-electric vehicles first shift focus to plug-in hybrid. Its first plug-in model was the Bentayga Hybrid SUV, which debuted as a 2020 model. Since then, it has been joined by a plug-in hybrid version of the Flying Spur sedan. That only makes the relevant Continental GT coupe and convertible the only models in the current Bentley lineup that lack the plug.
We found the Bentayga Hybrid to be pleasant to drive, as one would expect of a Bentley. But when we drove it, the Bentayga Hybrid’s EPA highway fuel economy rating was actually lower than Bentayga V8 non-hybrid paradigm. Its EPA-rated 18-mile electric range, with an efficiency rating of 45 MPGe, also doesn’t exactly reset the bar for plug-in hybrids.
