Here's How Bentley Is Getting Ready for Luxury Electric Vehicles
Bentley has begun preparing its Pyms Lane site for EV production, as the next step in its electrification strategy that has already seen the debuts of several PHEV models.
The British luxury brand will reveal a new battery-electric SUV in 2026, positioned below the Bentayga in size, with deliveries set to start in 2027.
The premium automaker will introduce a new BEV or PHEV model every year between now and 2035, with plans to go EV-only by that year.
It feels like it wasn't that long ago when Bentley first revealed its EV strategy, aiming for an EV-only lineup by 2030. These plans have since been revised, with a new target year of 2035.
Of course, quite a bit still has to happen between now and 2035 to make this a reality, especially at a time when several automakers are scaling back their EV ambitions. And as a first step this includes the launch of its first EV, slated to be revealed in 2026 and to arrive in customer driveways starting in 2027.
But just how much progress has been made toward that goal in recent months?
The automaker revealed this month that it is now readying its Pyms Lane factory for EV production and is converting the oldest building at the site for housing an assembly line for BEV models. Bentley recently opened a new paint shop and a new Excellence Centre for Quality & Launch.
"The new facilities aim to set a new benchmark in next generation, digital, flexible, and high-value manufacturing operations," the automaker said.
Just what one of those EV models will look like was previewed in late 2024, with Bentley showing a shadowy profile drawing of an unnamed "luxury urban SUV," one that could be a bit smaller than the Bentayga and aimed at a more dense, urban environment.
Slated to measure just under five meters, or 197 inches from head to stern, the model was described by the Bentley CEO as "compact" at the time, at least relative to the current Bentley vehicle universe.
"Last year marked a milestone year in our transformation as we prepare for our electric future," Frank-Steffen Walliser, Chairman and CEO of Bentley Motors, said this month. "We are investing at levels never seen before at Bentley, as we not only revolutionize our product cycle plan, but also transform an 85-year-old site for a new age of electrification."
In its path to an all-EV lineup, Bentley plans to introduce a new electric or hybrid model every year between now and 2035—a busy schedule for what is still a relatively small automaker based on annual production.
The tech and resources of the greater Volkswagen Automotive Group—Bentley's corporate parent—will certainly play a role in this ambitious debut schedule.
It is expected that the upcoming Porsche Cayenne EV, due to arrive in 2026, will lend its underpinnings to the upcoming Bentley model.
The electric Bentley SUV is also expected to be more nimble than the Bentayga, reflecting a subtle shift in priorities compared to the time the Bentayga was launched a decade ago, while also taking advantage of instant torque.
Bentley has not officially confirmed other upcoming battery-electric models just yet, but it is expected the debut of a battery-electric Continental GT is only a matter of time.
Such a model is now seen as one of the two next likely EV debuts, after the 2027 SUV, though it remains to be seen whether an all-electric Continental GT will arrive before 2030 or sometime thereafter. A new fourth generation of the internal-combustion model just arrived last year.
A battery-electric version of the next-gen Bentayga, due around the end of the decade with the next major redesign, is also anticipated by some industry watchers.
And between now and 2030, more PHEV variants of existing models are on the way, even after the debuts of three PHEV models over the past year.
What does the rest of the year look like for Bentley?
"Looking forward to 2025, of course we continue to navigate difficult global market conditions and maintained volatile political and economic environments, however our strength of sales is strong," Walliser said. "We have reached record levels of revenue per car, a well-balanced export strategy, and a clear structure to maximize personalization."
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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