Bentley Commits to 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel for Customer Car Airfreight

Bentley Motors announces the use of 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel for all customer car airfreight, supporting its Beyond100+ and Net Zero goals. Learn more.

Bentley Motors has announced that it will switch to 100 per cent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for all customer car airfreight movements worldwide, with immediate effect. The decision forms part of the company’s broader logistics decarbonisation strategy under its Beyond100+ programme and long-term Net Zero ambition.

Airfreight, Bentley emphasises, remains an exception rather than the norm. It is used only at the request of customers or when time-critical or market requirements make it unavoidable. Yet aviation is among the most carbon-intensive modes of transport, accounting for roughly 2–2.5 per cent of global CO₂ emissions, with overall climate impact rising further when non-CO₂ effects are included. In that context, switching to SAF where flights are essential is positioned as one of the most effective levers for cutting logistics-related emissions.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel is a certified alternative to conventional jet fuel, produced from renewable or waste-based feedstocks, including used oils and other biogenic sources. As a so-called drop-in fuel, SAF can be used in existing aircraft and airport infrastructure without technical modifications. Depending on the feedstock and production pathway, lifecycle CO₂e emissions can be reduced by up to 70–80 per cent, and in some cases up to 90–95 per cent, compared with conventional jet fuel.

The SAF used for Bentley’s customer car movements is certified under the ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) system, which verifies feedstock origin, supply chain traceability and lifecycle emission reductions on a well-to-wheel basis.

The company states that it has already transported vehicles using SAF, achieving substantial lifecycle emission reductions compared with standard aviation fuel. At present, the commitment covers all customer car airfreight, while early exploration is underway to extend SAF use to additional logistics routes where air transport may be required.

The initiative aligns with Bentley’s Beyond100+ strategy, which includes the transition to a fully electric model range from 2035 and a broader transformation of production and logistics operations. At a regulatory level, Europe is also moving in this direction: under the ReFuelEU Aviation framework, the mandated share of SAF is set to rise progressively from 2 per cent in 2025 to 70 per cent by 2050.

Although SAF still represents less than 1 per cent of global aviation fuel supply, production volumes are increasing. Industry data indicate that output exceeded one million tonnes in 2024, roughly double the level of the previous year. Against this backdrop, Bentley’s move signals an early integration of sustainable aviation solutions into luxury automotive logistics rather than a purely symbolic commitment.

By applying SAF to all essential customer airfreight, Bentley is targeting emission reductions in one of the most carbon-intensive segments of its global supply chain, reinforcing the operational foundations of its long-term climate objectives.