Bentley’s first EV will start production in 2025

Bentley’s first-ever electric vehicle (EV) will be developed and built in the UK with the company committing to investing £2.5 billion in sustainability over the next ten years.

The first Bentley EV is scheduled to roll off the production line in 2025, marking a significant step in the company’s Beyond100 strategy.

The luxury car maker plans to be exclusively electric and end-to-end carbon neutral by 2030.        

Adrian Hallmark, chairman and CEO of Bentley Motors, said: “Beyond100 is the boldest plan in Bentley’s illustrious history, and in the luxury segment. It’s an ambitious and credible roadmap to carbon neutrality of our total business system, including the shift to 100% BEV in just eight years.

“Our aim is to become the benchmark not just for luxury cars or sustainable credentials but the entire scope of our operations. Securing production of our first BEV in Crewe is a milestone moment for Bentley, and the UK, as we plan for a long-term sustainable future in Crewe.”             

The investment programme, according to Bentley, will result in a complete transformation of Bentley’s entire product portfolio and its Crewe Campus, by embedding an “industry-leading” greenfield facility into a “world-leading, next generation digital, low environmental impact, high-value advanced manufacturing facility”.

Bentley outlined its new sustainability plan that will see an end to its famous large-capacity combustion engines to become a fully-electrified luxury car brand within 10 years, in 2020.

The Volkswagen Group-owned OEM has said it will only sell plug-in hybrid or electric vehicles (EVs) by 2026 and will switch to EV-only by 2030.

Named Beyond100, the plan is expected to see Bentley transform from being the world’s largest producer of 12-cylinder engines to become a leader in suitable luxury mobility within a decade.

Peter Bosch, board member for Manufacturing at Bentley Motors, added: “Today is arguably the most important day in Bentley’s modern history, and is a testament to the hard work and skill of our colleagues in Crewe.

“The journey really does start now. We are already marking the pinnacle in luxury car production and have already transformed our factory to become carbon neutral, with industry-leading environmental credentials. With our new ‘Dream Factory’ concept, we now go to zero also with water, waste and other environmental impacts until 2030.

“Unique craftsmanship, customer interaction and employee experience will be enhanced by digital tech, higher flexibility and new ways of personalisation. We will develop the best of Crewe into the future benchmark of luxury car manufacturing.”