Bentley is set to receive its first battery-electric model by 2025 alongside a £2.5 billion (€2.99 billion) sustainability pledge for the next decade that could see the UK manufacturer become the latest luxury car brand to make the switch to greener engines.
Credit: Bentley Motors
Set to be developed at the company's plant in Crewe, Cheshire, the rollout will be followed by a commitment to producing exclusively electric vehicles by 2030, as part of its Beyond100 plans.
Read more: Rolls-Royce to go all-electric by 2030
Billed as the "boldest plan" in Bentley's long history, the company has made the laid out plans to become carbon neutral across its entire supply chain over the next 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", Bentley's Chairman and CEO Adrian Hallmark revealed in a statement.
This fits in the British government's purview, which has vowed to ban the sale of new diesel and petrol vehicles in the UK by 2030, with plans to ban fossil-fuel powered trucks by 2040.
Other automakers, such as BMW, have already laid out plans to be ready in the event of such bans. Volvo's CEO supported the UK's ban and has suggested such legislation may be necessary to encourage the shift away from fossil fuels for the transport sector.
“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", said Peter Bosch, a board member for Bentley Motors.
The company has allegedly already "transformed" the Crewe plant to operate at zero emissions and is currently undergoing plans to "go zero with water, waste and other environmental impacts until 2030", in a notion they're labelling the "Dream Factory" concept.
Read more: Bentley opens new excellence centre at Crewe factory
"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", Bosch added.
Bentley is expected to make more announcements at a press conference at 4 pm on Friday.
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