Bentley shifts focus to hybrids and scales down electric car plans

Bentley is changing its roadmap for the next decade. The famous British luxury brand announced it will move away from its original plan of launching five new electric cars by 2035. Instead of rushing into a full lineup of EVs, the company will focus more on hybrid vehicles. This decision comes as car buyers around the world show less interest in expensive battery-powered models than many companies expected.

The boss of Bentley, Frank Walliser, explained that the company had to rethink its entire product line. He noted that their current plans look completely different than they did just two years ago. This shift is part of a larger trend in the car industry. Many high-end brands are finding that their customers still prefer the sound and feel of a traditional engine, or at least the flexibility of a plug-in hybrid.

But one specific project is still moving forward - Bentley still wants to release its first-ever electric car in 2027. They are calling this model an Urban SUV (previewed by the EXP 15 concept). This vehicle is expected to use a battery and motor system similar to the upcoming Porsche Cayenne Electric. The company says this new SUV will be able to add 99 miles of range in seven minutes when using a fast charger - a bit underwhelming when Chinese budget-friendly cars can charge twice as fast.

The Urban SUV is safe for now, but four other electric models that were in the works have been canceled. These cars were supposed to use a platform developed by Porsche. Unfortunately, Porsche decided to stop working on that specific electric platform and without those shared parts, Bentley decided it was too expensive to build the four extra EVs on its own.

For the next few years, Bentley will put its energy into plug-in hybrids. At the moment, the brand offers hybrid versions of the Continental GT and the Flying Spur. These models use a powerful V8 engine paired with an electric motor. Customers seem to like these hybrids because they offer a mix of power and lower emissions.

Staying profitable is a major reason for this change. Bentley has made a profit for seven years in a row. The company leaders believe that spending too much money on electric cars right now is risky because not enough people are buying them. By sticking with gas and hybrid engines for a bit longer, the company can keep making money while it waits for more people to want electric cars.

Even though Bentley is slowing down, it is not giving up on electric cars forever. Frank Walliser says the company still wants to be fully electric one day. However, they will not release another electric model after the 2027 SUV until at least 2030. They want to watch the market closely to see if wealthy buyers start to accept EVs more in the future.

The 2027 Urban SUV will likely feature a large 108 kWh battery. If it performs like its Porsche cousins, it should be able to travel about 373 miles on a single charge. It will also support fast charging at up to 400 kW. For now, Bentley is taking a "wait and see" approach, making sure they build the types of cars their customers actually want to buy today.

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