Bentley unveils Beyond100+ strategy; set to launch first BEV in 2026

KUALA LUMPUR: In 2020, Bentley unveiled its Beyond100 plan with a commitment to become a fully electric, carbon-neutral brand by 2030. Fast forward to today, the British luxury car company announced an extension of this strategy, now called Beyond100+, pushing its goals from 2030 to 2035.

As per the updated strategy, Bentley is set to introduce its first fully electric car in 2026. Touted as the “World’s First Luxury Urban SUV, it will give rise to a new electric vehicle market segment.

As per the reports, the upcoming Bentley EV will be positioned below the Bentayga in the brand’s lineup. It will be based on the flexible PPE electric platform that we can find under the Audi Q6 e-tron and Porsche Macan Electric. The said architecture supports different motor and battery setups, including options for all-wheel drive and ultra-fast 800V charging.

The EV will kick off a series of plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and electric models that Bentley plans to launch each year for the next 10 years. All models will be developed and produced at the company’s home base in Crewe, England. 

The Crewe-based automaker has also extended the lifespan of its plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models until 2035, five years beyond its initial 2030 target. It has also rolled out the Continental GT coupe, Convertible, and Flying Spur models exclusively with a powerful Ultra Performance plug-in V8 hybrid engine. 

Upon announcing the extended electrification targets, Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser, Chairman and CEO of Bentley Motors, said “Four years almost to the day that Bentley initially outlined its Beyond100 strategy, we adapt to today’s economic, market and legislative environment to initiate a major transformative phase for tomorrow. Beyond100+ becomes our guiding light as we extend our ambitions beyond 2030, while maintaining our aim of a decarbonised future, including offering only fully electric cars from 2035, and reinforcing our credentials as the British creator of extraordinary cars for over a century and beyond.”  

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