Bentley Motors aims to become an end-to-end carbon neutral organisation with fully electric vehicles by 2030, the firm announced today.
The Crewe firm, committed to hand-crafting cars in South Cheshire for the next 100 years, says its first pure electric model is to be launched in 2025.
As part of its Beyond100 strategy revealed today, the car maker says it is switching its model range to “exclusively plug-in hybrid or battery electric vehicles by 2026, and full electric vehicles only by 2030”.
Bentley chiefs say their plan will see the company go from the world’s largest producer of 12-cylinder petrol engines to having no internal combustion engines in a decade.
Adrian Hallmark, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bentley Motors, said: “Since 1919, Bentley has defined luxury grand touring.
“Being at the forefront of progress is part of our DNA – the original Bentley boys were pioneers and leaders.
“Now, as we look Beyond100, we will continue to lead by reinventing the company and becoming the world’s benchmark luxury car business.
“Driving this change includes, and also goes beyond our products, delivering a paradigm shift throughout our business, with credibility, authenticity, and integrity.
“Within a decade, Bentley will transform from a 100-year-old luxury car company to a new, sustainable, wholly ethical role model for luxury.”
It aims to develop electrified models throughout its range, having already committed that every model line will be offered with the option of a hybrid variant by 2023.
Bentley will then offer plug-in hybrid and electric models only within its range in 2026.
By 2030, this will change to battery electric vehicles only.
The company’s electrified future was aired today when they unveiled the all-electric EXP 100 GT concept car in its centenary year.
Last year, Bentley’s production facility became the first luxury automotive factory in the UK to be certified carbon neutral by the Carbon Trust.
The company restructured earlier this year with a voluntary release and redundancy programme which saw 800 employees and contractors leave.
Bentley says it will continue to work with local schools and colleges to develop local talent in South Cheshire, with links with Crewe Engineering & Design UTC.
It aims to create two new Research and Development buildings, a vehicle test centre and a dedicated launch quality centre.
