Bentley Bets on Hybrids Over Electrics: Luxury Market’s Resistance to EVs and Bentley’s Strategic Shift Explored

The head of Bentley, a high-end brand within the Volkswagen Group, suggests the upscale automobile sector is not embracing electric vehicles.

In a discussion with Car and Driver, Porsche's CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser noted a current trend in the high-end automotive market where affluent buyers are turning away from electric vehicles. According to Walliser, these consumers associate luxury vehicles strictly with traditional gasoline engines.

In 2020, Bentley announced its intention to transform its full range of vehicles into plug-in hybrids by 2026, with a goal to transition to fully electric vehicles by 2030. The high-end car manufacturer indicated in 2022 that it would produce its inaugural electric vehicle in 2025.

Bentley is currently transitioning its vehicle range, shifting from its previous commitment to W-12 engines in favor of introducing plug-in hybrid V-8s. Walliser confirms that the W-12 engine will not make a comeback and has been permanently discontinued. The company is on track to unveil its inaugural electric vehicle in 2026, which is expected to hit the market by 2027.

Walliser pointed out that Bentley, due to its limited size as a car manufacturer, doesn't have the financial capacity to produce both internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric vehicle (EV) variants of their models in the way that automotive giants like Mercedes and BMW do. In his view, plug-in hybrids are a practical and significant transitional solution, not just a temporary innovation.

The chief officer hasn't promised that Bentley will exclusively produce plug-in hybrid vehicles, but he's very optimistic about synthetic fuels. Before taking on the role of CEO at the high-end car manufacturer in July, Walliser held a leadership position at Porsche, which is affiliated with Bentley.

Walliser indicates that Bentley could keep manufacturing gasoline-only vehicles, but potentially as exclusive, limited-run editions.

Rolls-Royce, a key rival of Bentley, is intensifying its focus on electric vehicles (EVs). This high-end competitor has introduced the Spectre, its initial EV offering, and is planning to release an electric SUV and a sedan in the years 2027 and 2028. The company has pledged to fully transition to electric vehicles by the year 2030 and is firmly adhering to this strategy.

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