Bentley’s electric future is no joke and they’re planning to spend big money, about $4.7 billion AUD, to make it happen.
Like many other luxury car manufacturers, Bentley is staking their livelihood on a green future. Why do they feel like this is a good idea? Because sales of electric cars are absolutely skyrocketing and consumer confidence in the product is growing, particularly in Europe and China.
As reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, electric car sales rose by around 140% in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020. Most of these sales are driven by China with around 500,000 vehicles sold, and from Europe with around 450,000. The United States has also more than doubled electric car sales relative to the first quarter of 2020.
While countries like Australia are falling well behind when it comes to electric vehicle uptake, the trend is still continuing upwards.
To ensure that they don’t get left behind and miss out on a potentially humungous boom, Bentley Motors have announced their Beyond100 strategy that will see Bentley launch a new electric model every year from 2025!
The first Bentley Electric vehicle will be designed, developed and produced at Bentley headquarters in Crewe, England and released in 2025. The factory itself will also be green, a “Dream Factory,” that will involve a digital, zero environmental impact, flexible, and high-value manufacturing plant.
Adrian Hallmark, Chairman and CEO of Bentley Motors, said in a statement,
“This latest announcement regarding Bentley’s Beyond100 plan confirms the initiation of a major transformative phase in the company’s long and illustrious history. The world is changing and we need to play our part in neutralising our environmental impact. That means delivering on our aim to be end-to-end carbon neutral by 2030, and reaffirming our role as the leader in sustainable luxury mobility.”
In 2021, the European Commission revealed it wants to end the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2035. Given that Bentley are a European company, it makes sense that they would work in tandem with these plans.
It isn’t just Europe making these plans. In the same year, U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order that requires 50% of all new cars sold by 2030 to be electric. Biden is backed by two of the U.S’s biggest car manufacturers, Ford and General Motors, so while political pressure in the coming years may change things, the industry is willing to move forward.
As Biden said on Twitter, “The future of the auto industry is electric – and made in America.”
While Australia’s federal government continues to meander and delay any possible plans for combating climate change, the same cannot be said of the states. The NSW government has announced a $3,000 subsidy for new electric cars under $70,000 as well as a stamp duty exemption. It isn’t a lot, but it still saves you a few thousand dollars. Victoria has also announced similar plans for new electric cars under $68,740.
What the federal government in Australia has provided is a $250m government fund to install charging infrastructure and cut costs. The Prime Minister Scott Morrison is hoping to get 1.7 million low and zero emission cars on the road by 2030. This in my opinion is comparatively diddly-squat when you look at other nation’s plans for 2030.
If you’re into EVs, check out Rolls-Royce’s electric plane that is breaking so many records.
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