Bentley Rules Out Chinese EV Tech: What It Means

Two Luxury Brands, Two Completely Different Bets

Two of the world's oldest luxury car brands are making diametrically opposed decisions about Chinese technology. And the choice each brand makes tells buyers a great deal about what those brands think they're actually selling.

Maserati is in advanced discussions with both Huawei and JAC to supply cutting-edge EV and range-extender technology for future models, including a new seventh-generation Quattroporte. Bentley's CEO Frank-Steffan Walliser has ruled out the same approach entirely and without hesitation.

"You have some specific technologies that are available in China. For sure, you can use them," Walliser said. "But they have to be true to Bentley."

His answer says what he didn't quite state directly: Bentley doesn't think Chinese technology, however advanced, is consistent with the brand identity its customers are paying for.

The V8 PHEV Is Bentley's Answer

Walliser pointed to Bentley's Ultra Performance Hybrid as its current answer to the electrification question. The powertrain pairs a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 with a battery, producing up to 575kW and 1000Nm of torque. Models running it include the Continental GT Speed, GTC convertible and Flying Spur.

The system allows up to 80km of EV-only range. That's a number that sounds modest compared to the 200 to 400km that some Chinese range-extender luxury vehicles claim. Walliser's response to that comparison is essentially: that's not the product our customers are asking for.

"We already have a very nice range extender. A 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 with a very small battery. I feel this is perfect," he said.

For Australian buyers of Bentley, the practical implication is clear. If you want maximum EV-mode range from a luxury car purchase, Bentley is not competing on that metric. It's competing on driving feel, brand prestige and what Walliser repeatedly called authenticity.

Why Chinese Luxury Tech Is Increasingly Tempting for Rival Brands

Maserati's reasoning is different and worth understanding on its own terms. Chinese range-extender powertrains operate differently from traditional plug-in hybrids in a way that matters to Chinese buyers specifically.

In China, EVs and range-extended electric vehicles attract purchase incentives and tax breaks. PHEVs from European brands are sometimes classified alongside conventional combustion vehicles and can be subject to licence plate quotas, meaning potential owners have to enter an expensive lottery to register their car.

For a brand like Maserati that needs to grow in China to justify its survival, partnering with JAC for range-extender technology isn't about technology admiration. It's about market access. The new Quattroporte with a JAC powertrain would qualify for incentives and registration pathways that the current European PHEV doesn't.

Bentley has made a different calculation. It's not targeting the volume segment of the Chinese luxury market. Its customers are, by definition, not subject to the same financial constraints.

The First Bentley EV Is Coming

Walliser confirmed that Bentley's first fully electric model is a few months away. The codename is D-LEV and the form factor is an Urban SUV, more compact than the Bentayga, with generous interior space, significant power and what Walliser described as innovative technology.

"20 to 25 per cent of the market is already electric, and we see a movement. All our luxury competitors will soon have an electric car on offer. It would be a mistake to not offer one," he said.

For Australian buyers interested in a Bentley EV, the D-LEV's arrival will be significant. It's expected to occupy a different position in the range from the Bentayga, targeting urban luxury SUV buyers who want Bentley presence without the size of the existing flagship.

What Mulsanne Buyers Have Been Waiting For

For fans of Bentley's traditional large limousine format, there's an update that offers little comfort. When asked about a Mulsanne replacement, Walliser noted he's asked about it frequently, mainly by media rather than customers, and didn't signal any imminent revival.

Instead, the Supersports naming convention will spin off into new hardcore limited-edition variants based on core models. A Continental GTC Supersports appears to be in development.

What This Means for Buyers in Australia

If you're in the market for a Bentley in Australia, the brand's position is becoming clearer. You're buying a car built in Crewe, England, with a V8 or W12 developed entirely in-house, in a brand that is explicitly not chasing Chinese market incentives or Chinese technology tie-ups.

Whether that matters to you personally depends on what you value. For many Bentley buyers, the origin story and the manufacturing provenance are a significant part of what they're paying for. For others, the 80km EV-only range on the current PHEV might feel inadequate against Chinese range-extended alternatives that now offer 300km or more.

The luxury market is bifurcating. Some brands are chasing Chinese technology partnerships because the performance gap has genuinely closed. Others are doubling down on heritage, craftsmanship and provenance as their differentiator. Bentley has chosen the latter path clearly and without ambiguity.

For buyers comparing a Bentley against a Maserati with JAC electrics, or a Zeekr or BYD flagship at a fraction of the price, the question is ultimately what experience and what identity you're buying into. The technology is increasingly available from multiple sources. What isn't replicable is a 107-year-old brand that has decided its identity is worth protecting even at a commercial cost.

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