Bentley to launch five EV models from 2025, invest nearly $5bn in electrification

The team at Bentley have its work cut out to transform the luxury brand into an all-electric manufacturer by 2030 – but the first piece of the puzzle has just been announced.

Bentley will begin its transition from 2025 as part of its Five-in-Five plan, launching a new electric vehicle every year until 2030 when it ditches internal combustion engines for good.

It's the first stage of Bentley's Beyond100 strategy with its first dedicated EV – tipped to be an SUV based on Audi's Artemis Project architecture – becoming the tangible face of the brand's transformation, as a further £2.5 billion (AU$4.73bn) will be put towards making the manufacturer's line-up fully-electric.

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All development and production of the new battery-electric vehicle (BEV) will be completed at Bentley's revitalised facility in Crewe, with CEO Adrian Hallmark saying the plant is set for a carbon neutral upgrade.

“Beyond100 is the boldest plan in Bentley’s illustrious history, and in the luxury segment," said Hallmark.

"It’s an ambitious and credible roadmap to carbon neutrality of our total business system, including the shift to 100 per cent BEV in just eight years.

“Our aim is to become the benchmark – not just for luxury cars or sustainable credentials, but for 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 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.”

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Last year, Bentley released a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant of its Flying Spur, joining the Bentayga as the two electrified models in its range, with twin-turbo V6 and V8 PHEV powerplants now available from the Crewe outfit.

It's expected these engines will find their way into the Continental in the near future, as Bentley says "five additional derivatives" of electrified vehicles will be launched shortly, predicting 20 per cent of its 2022 sales are going to come from hybrid models.