Bentley reports lowest CO₂ emissions, confirms 2026 EV

Bentley publishes its 2025 Sustainability Report, reporting record-low CO₂ emissions and confirming its first electric vehicle debut in 2026. Read key details.

Bentley has reached its lowest-ever fleet CO₂ emissions — and at the same time confirmed that its first fully electric model remains on track for a 2026 debut. These two milestones define the company’s current transformation.

The fourth Sustainability Report shows that the Beyond100+ strategy is moving beyond ambition into measurable progress. In 2025, Bentley maintained carbon-neutral manufacturing in Crewe while continuing to reduce fleet emissions, largely driven by the expansion of plug-in hybrid models. At the same time, the company is extending its decarbonisation efforts across the entire value chain, from suppliers to logistics.

Much of the focus is on technologies already being deployed. Bentley has expanded the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel for air freight, cutting emissions by up to 70–95% compared to conventional fuel. In parallel, the company is advancing work on Direct Air Capture and synthetic eFuels, aiming to reduce emissions even in vehicles that continue to use internal combustion engines. This aligns with a more flexible electrification strategy, where BEVs, PHEVs and ICE models coexist.

This flexibility is becoming a defining feature of Bentley’s approach. The brand’s first fully electric vehicle is scheduled for reveal in 2026. It is expected to be a luxury urban SUV under five metres in length, already in pre-series development. Customer deliveries are anticipated from 2027, reflecting a phased transition rather than an immediate shift.

The significance of this strategy extends beyond the brand itself. The luxury automotive sector is undergoing a major transformation, and Bentley is attempting to balance traditional craftsmanship with the demands of decarbonisation. The report highlights challenges such as infrastructure limitations, geopolitical uncertainty and shifting customer expectations — factors that are shaping a more adaptive transition timeline.

Beyond products, the transformation includes deeper integration of lifecycle analysis, allowing Bentley to assess environmental impact from raw material sourcing to vehicle use. Supplier engagement and responsible sourcing are also being strengthened as part of this process.

Social initiatives remain a core element. The Advancing Life Chances programme continues to expand its focus on education and community support, while the Bentley Foundation has broadened its scope to include environmental restoration and global education. Projects include the planting of over 200,000 mangrove trees and efforts to protect marine ecosystems.

At the centre of this transformation is Bentley’s Crewe facility, which has operated as a carbon-neutral site for several years. Powered entirely by renewable electricity and supported by infrastructure such as tens of thousands of solar panels, the plant represents a key step toward the company’s longer-term ambition of becoming climate positive.

Altogether, these developments point to a broader shift. Bentley is not only preparing for its first electric vehicle, but systematically reshaping its business model — with the long-term goal of achieving full electrification and net zero emissions by 2050 already guiding its current decisions.