Bentley’s first EV to be launched in 2026 First EV to be an SUV smaller than the Bentayga Bentley aims to become a fully electric brand by 2035
Bentley has scaled back its electrification plans due to slower-than-expected growth in demand for electric cars, but plans to launch a battery-only car by 2026, as previously announced, the chief executive said. CEO Frank Steffen Walliser said this at a press conference held on the 21st. Thursday.
Just two years ago, Bentley laid out plans to launch its first EV by the middle of the decade, then introduce a new EV every year for the next four years, in order to become an all-electric brand by 2030.
But the automaker currently plans to launch just one EV, which Walliser confirmed is an SUV, on Thursday, and plans to add more depending on market trends. Walliser said Bentley is open to launching a new EV or plug-in hybrid every year after the launch of its first EV, and is currently targeting a switch to an all-electric lineup by 2035.
Matthias Raabe, Bentley’s head of engineering, said during the conference that Bentley EVs will only use a dedicated EV platform, so there will be no models available with electric or plug-in hybrid powertrain options. According to him, packaging requirements are completely different and compromises must be made.
Frank Steffen Walliser
This means Bentley’s debut EV has no relation to other Bentley models. It’s a new model line, and Walliser describes it as a “luxury urban SUV.” At less than 197 inches long, it’s smaller than the Bentayga, which measures 202 inches from nose to tail, and more agile than the typical Bentley. Walliser said the move is aimed at making it easier to drive in urban areas and attracting buyers new to the brand.
Walliser has previously said that while the majority of Bentley’s existing customers don’t want an electric car, there is a segment of buyers who are looking for a high-end electric car. For these buyers, it’s not just the drivetrain, it’s the whole experience, he said.
Few specific details about the first EV were revealed at the conference, but Raabe did reveal that there would be a distinctive sound emitted by the vehicle. He said the vehicle will not have synthetic sound like many other automakers do, but instead will have a novel setup that “nobody’s done before.” He also said that the range of the EV is sufficient and that Bentley will focus on achieving very fast charging speeds.
