Amid weak demand, Bentley Motors postpones all-EV plan and shifts towards plug-in hybrids.

• Once again, Bentley Motors is delaying its goal to solely provide all-electric vehicles, while continuing to prioritize plug-in hybrid electric vehicles until at least 2035.
• By the end of this decade, the carmaker, owned by Volkswagen, initially stated in 2020 that it would only provide all-electric vehicles.
• Starting in 2026, Bentley will release an all-electric vehicle, followed by a new EV or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle annually until 2035.

Once again, Bentley Motors is delaying its goal to solely provide all-electric vehicles, and will continue to focus on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles until at least 2035.

The British manufacturer of high-end performance vehicles announced on Thursday that it still aims to produce only electric cars by 2035, but this goal may need to be adjusted due to shifting market conditions.

Frank-Steffen Walliser, Bentley Chairman and CEO, stated that there is limited demand for EVs among current customers. However, he emphasized that the automaker must comply with regulations and prepare for a new generation of customers.

""While legislation is promoting electrification, competition and low demand are also factors to consider," Walliser stated during an online media event on Thursday."

In 2020, the carmaker owned by - said it planned to exclusively offer all-electric vehicles by the end of this decade. However, former CEO Adrian Hallmark, who left the company days before, stated that the plans would be delayed by a few years, but no specific timeframe was given.

Bentley announced that it will release a new EV or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle annually until 2035, beginning with its first EV, a "Luxury Urban SUV," in 2026. The initial production of the EV was anticipated to commence next year.

During the Thursday briefing, Matthias Rabe, head of Bentley's research and development, stated that the company will continue to produce PHEVs as long as markets and customers require them.

In the future, Bentley may still produce vehicles powered by traditional internal combustion engines, according to Rabe.

Walliser, who replaced Hallmark in July, stated that the automaker's initial EV will be smaller than its typical vehicles, including its current Bentayga SUV.

Bentley's first all-electric vehicle's delay was due to software problems and challenges in developing the vehicle's architecture to meet Bentley's standards, according to Hallmark. He stated that these issues were the main reason for the delay in EV plans, rather than market conditions.

Walliser stated in a release that four years have passed since Bentley first presented its Beyond100 strategy, and now we must adjust to the current economic, market, and legislative climate to begin a significant transformative phase for the future.

Bentley is modifying its business strategy from Beyond100 to "Beyond100+," which signifies the more than century-old car manufacturer.

While Bentley is renowned for its luxurious, spacious, and high-performance vehicles equipped with 12- and 8-cylinder engines that command millions of dollars for limited or exclusive models, the company has recently discontinued its iconic "W12" engine, shifting its focus towards PHEVs featuring 8- and 6-cylinder engines.

PHEVs are hybrid vehicles that come equipped with an internal combustion engine and a hybrid system, as well as a larger battery than traditional hybrids. They also have a plug that enables the vehicle's battery to be recharged. PHEVs allow drivers to travel a certain distance using the battery before the engine is required to power the car or truck.