Here's How Bentley Is Preparing for a Luxurious Electric Future

• Bentley has started readying its Pyms Lane facility for electric vehicle manufacturing, marking the subsequent phase in its electrification plan following the introduction of various plug-in hybrid models.
• The upscale British company plans to unveil a new electric SUV in 2026, which will be smaller than the Bentayga, with shipping expected to begin in 2027.
• The luxury car brand will launch at least one new BEV or PHEV vehicle annually from this point until 2035, aiming to exclusively produce electric vehicles by then.

It seems as though it was only recently when Bentley initially disclosed its electric vehicle plan, with the objective of having only electric vehicles in their range by 2030. These revisions have led to a new target year of 2035 for these plans.

Certainly, significant developments must occur before 2035 for this vision to become reality, particularly considering that some automotive manufacturers are reducing their electric vehicle goals during this period. As an initial move, they plan to unveil their inaugural EV in 2026 with deliveries expected to begin reaching customers’ homes in 2027.

Yet, how far have we come towards achieving that objective in the past several months?

This month, the car manufacturer announced that they are preparing their Pyms Lane plant for electric vehicle manufacturing and transforming the facility’s oldest structure into a space for assembling battery-electric vehicles. Recently, Bentley inaugurated a new paint shop along with a new Excellence Center focused on quality assurance and launch processes.

The new facilities are designed to establish a new standard for next-generation, digital, adaptable, and high-value manufacturing processes,” according to the automaker.

What one of those electric vehicle models would appear as was showcased in late 2024, with Bentley displaying a vague outline sketch of an unnamed "upscale city SUV." One that might be slightly smaller than the Bentayga and designed for a more compact, city setting.

Expected to be slightly less than five meters long, or about 197 inches from front to back, the model was referred to by the Bentley CEO as "compact" at that point, at minimum. relative in the present lineup of Bentley vehicles.

This past year was a significant milestone in our evolution as we gear up for an electric future," stated Frank-Steffen Walliser, Chairman and CEO of Bentley Motors, this month. "At Bentley, we are committing unprecedented investment funds because we're not just overhauling our product development process; we’re also revamping an 85-year-old facility to usher in a new era of electrification.

As part of its journey toward an all-electric vehicle fleet, Bentley intends to launch at least one new electric or hybrid model annually from this point until 2035—an ambitious timeline for such transformations. still a fairly minor car manufacturer based on annual production.

The technology and resources from the broader Volkswagen Automotive Group—which is Bentley’s parent company—are sure to have an impact on this bold launch timeline.

It is anticipated that the forthcoming The Porsche Cayenne EV, set to launch in 2026, will provide the foundation for the forthcoming Bentley vehicle.

The all-electric Bentley SUV is anticipated to handle better than the Bentayga, indicating a slight change in focus from when the Bentayga first came out roughly ten years back. This improvement leverages the benefits of immediate torque delivery.

Bentley hasn't formally announced any additional electric vehicles so far, but it's anticipated that an all-electric version of the Continental GT will be unveiled soon enough.

This particular model is currently regarded as one of the two upcoming electric vehicle launches following the 2027 SUV release, although it’s uncertain if we'll see an entirely electric Continental GT prior to 2030 or perhaps later. The latest fourth-generation version powered by traditional combustion engines was introduced only last year.

Some experts in the automotive sector anticipate that a battery-electric variant of the upcoming second-generation Bentayga, expected to launch towards the end of the decade alongside significant redesigns, will also be introduced.

By 2030, additional plug-in hybrid electric vehicle versions of current models will be introduced, despite the fact that three such models have been unveiled in the last year.

How does the remainder of the year appear for Bentley?

In anticipation of 2025, despite continuing to face challenging global market conditions and unpredictable political and economic climates, our sales performance remains robust," stated Walliser. "We've achieved unprecedented revenue per vehicle, implemented a balanced export approach, and established a clear framework to enhance customization options.

Bentley has traditionally been seen as somewhat immune to annual shifts in the economy when it comes to sales.

But its revenues and operating profits have fluctuated quite a bit over the past several years, with 2023 and 2024 seeing declines in revenues of 13% and 10%, respectively.

Its operating profits have also seen drastic swings over the past five years, with significant gains seen in 2021 and 2022 followed by declines in the two subsequent years.

The brand's electrification strategy, however, will now coincide with the emergence of a much more global audience than its lineup had seen 20 years ago. China's turn to EVs is one of the driving forces of this transformation.

Can Bentley stick to its 2035 EV-only goal, or will the automaker push back the target year once again? Let us know what you think in the comments.

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