Bentley's First Electric Vehicle Launch Delayed Amid Slow Global Adoption

By Leira Aquino

Mar 19, 2024 08:39 PM EDT

BRITAIN-AUTO-CAR-ENVIRONMENT-ELECTRIC-BENTLEY — The sign of the luxury car maker Bentley is pictured behind cars on the forecourt, outside a garage in Tunbridge Wells, south-east of London. Bentley Motors announced that it will delay its plan to switch to all-electric cars due to technical challenges.
(Photo : BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)

Bentley Motors announced Tuesday a delay in its plans to transition exclusively to all electric vehicles (EVs). This comes amid changing market conditions and technical challenges.

CEO Adrian Hallmark revealed that the company will push back the launch of its first EV to late 2026, with customer deliveries expected in 2027, nearly two years later than initially planned.

Bentley Attributes EV Launch Delay to Technical Issues

The decision to postpone the EV launch comes as Bentley faces hurdles in developing its electric platform to meet the brand's rigorous standards.

Hallmark attributed the delay to software issues and difficulties in ensuring the vehicle's architecture aligns with Bentley's expectations.

Nonetheless, Hallmark reaffirmed Bentley's commitment to carbon neutrality and exclusive EV offerings during a media briefing.

Bentley had intended to introduce its inaugural EV in 2025, followed by a new all-electric model each year as part of a significant investment plan totaling $3.4 billion by 2030.

The delay in the first EV's release will also impact other vehicle launches under the company's EV roadmap.

Furthermore, Bentley will continue to offer plug-in hybrid models alongside EVs beyond its previous target of 2030. Hallmark emphasized that this extension will only be for a few years until the hybrids are replaced by EV successors.

"Whether we deliver all the BEVs by 2031 or not, we still may have some hybrids that we wouldn't have had post-2030," the CEO said. "But not for 10 years, maybe just for a couple of years as we run them out."

Bentley's Delay in EV Strategy Echoes Industry Trends

The shift in Bentley's EV strategy reflects a broader trend among automakers grappling with slower-than-expected global adoption of electric vehicles.

The company's decision to delay aligns with similar moves by other industry players facing challenges in EV production and market acceptance.

Despite the setback in its EV plans, Bentley remains on course to achieve full electrification in the coming decade.

Production of Bentley's iconic W-12 engine is set to end in April, with the V-8 engine slated to continue only for plug-in hybrid powertrains starting in July or August.

Hallmark previously highlighted the cost advantages of EV batteries compared to traditional combustion engines, signaling the company's eagerness to transition to electric powertrains.

The first EV from Bentley will introduce a new model line, while subsequent EVs will be redesigned versions of existing models.