Bentley no longer expects to only sell electric cars by 2030

Volkswagen Group brand Bentley reports that the electrification of its range will take longer than expected. Bentley previously said it wanted to sell exclusively electric cars by 2030 at the latest, but is postponing that goal by a few years. The company's first EV is also postponed.

Bentley is postponing the announcement of its electric car to 2026, with first sales in 2027, CEO Adrian Hallmark confirms according to Autonews. The company expected to release its first EV in 2025, and then launch a new electric model every year. The first car is therefore postponed, which means that the subsequent models will also be released later. According to Hallmark, the delay is due to a software problem, along with difficulties in developing the car's architecture to meet the brand's wishes.

The company said a few years ago that it would be exclusively battery-electric by 2030. wants to sell cars, but that will also take a few years longer. The company also expects to continue offering hybrid cars beyond its previous target of 2030. According to Hallmark, this is happening partly because of the postponement of its first EV, and partly because of “all the changes around us,” referring to changing market conditions surrounding electric cars and growing interest in hybrid cars.

Bentley previously also said that from 2026 it will no longer sell cars with only a combustion engine; that goal remains unchanged. From that year on, the company only sold plug-in hybrids and later also EVs. Bentley already sells hybrid versions of its Bentayga and Flying Spur. This year the Continental GT will also get a hybrid variant.