Bentley: A More Flexible Strategy Rather Than Focusing on Electric Cars

Image: Bentley

Bentley has adjusted its electrification strategy due to market uncertainties. The original goal of fully transitioning the British luxury brand to electric powertrains by 2030 has been abandoned.

In 2020, the Volkswagen subsidiary had announced that it would phase out all internal combustion engine models by the end of the decade. However, these plans were revised due to declining demand for luxury electric vehicles and relaxed regulations on the sale of combustion engine cars. As a result, the market launch of the recently introduced all-electric Torcal model was delayed by a year, while development of a new series of plug-in hybrids began simultaneously.

No further models based on Porsche’s PPE (Premium Platform Electric) architecture, derived from the Torcal, are expected in the future. The next electric vehicle is slated to appear after 2030 and is likely to use a variant of the Volkswagen Group’s upcoming SSP (Scalable System Platform) architecture.

Bentley CEO Frank-Steffan Walliser said in a preview presentation of the Torcal to Autocar that the existing strategy was no longer compatible with the development of the automotive market in the 2020s. He emphasized the need for greater flexibility in strategies, as plans and regulatory requirements keep changing.

A hybrid version of the Torcal will not be introduced, according to the CEO, as the platform is designed specifically for electric vehicles. Additionally, such a model would overlap with the slightly larger combustion engine SUV Bentayga, which would contradict the product’s identity.

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About the author

Thomas Langenbucher is an expert in electromobility with professional experience in the automotive and financial industries. Since 2011, he has been covering electric vehicles, sustainable technologies, and mobility solutions for ecomento.de. Learn more.

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