Bentley is set to follow in the footsteps of Rolls-Royce, announcing a commitment to an electric future for its luxury vehicle lineup. The company plans to transition from its powerful 12-cylinder engines to the quieter and smoother operation of electric motors, starting in 2025, as reported by Automotive News.
According to the report, this British automaker, now owned by German interests, will assemble an electric vehicle in a new factory at its existing Crewe facility in England, although specific details about the vehicle remain sparse. One confirmed aspect is that it will feature advanced driver assistance systems developed by its parent company, Audi, as part of a larger Volkswagen Group initiative. This development is part of a $3.4 billion investment in sustainability that Bentley plans to implement over the next decade.
CEO Adrian Hallmark emphasized that this initiative is integral to Bentley’s long-term sustainability strategy, ensuring the brand’s ongoing relevance in the evolving landscape of eco-friendly transport. The timing for this shift is especially advantageous. Bentley has experienced record sales during the pandemic, unlike other manufacturers that struggled with supply chain issues. Benefiting from its affluent customer base, the company is well-positioned for this significant transformation. The transition has already started, with Bentley phasing out its complex W-configuration engines and hybridizing its existing combustion models.
As for when more information about Bentley’s upcoming electric vehicle might be available, it could be some time before we see pre-production models on the roads, as the planned “Bentley Dream Factory” has yet to be constructed. In the interim, the first electric offering from Rolls-Royce, the Spectre coupe, is anticipated to debut in 2023..
