Bentley Has Been Profitable For Seven Years In A Row
It still turned a profit last year, despite massive investments to bring its first electric car to market.
The Breakdown
- Bentley had a profitable 2025 despite massive investments to bring its first EV to market.
- Sales fell 4.8 percent to 10,131 units.
- Bentley will launch a plug-in hybrid or an EV each year until 2035.
2025 wasn’t the best year for Bentley, but it could’ve been even worse for the Audi-owned brand. With US tariffs and contracting demand in China, traditional luxury automakers are under pressure. Nevertheless, sales didn’t fall off a cliff, declining by just 4.8 percent to 10,131 units.
Although overall deliveries saw a minor setback, Bentley says it offset weaker demand with high-margin products from its Mulliner bespoke division. Additionally, the high-performance Speed derivatives were in strong demand. As a result, revenue dipped by only one percent year-over-year to €2.6 billion, or $3 billion at current exchange rates. As expected, the Bentayga SUV was the top-selling model.
Even in a challenging environment, Crewe marked its seventh consecutive year of profitability. It posted an operating profit of €216 million (about $248.7 million), resulting in an operating margin of 8.3 percent. These figures were achieved largely without the W12, as the twelve-cylinder powerhouse was retired with the stunning Batur.
As the old saying goes, you have to spend money to make money. Bentley opened a new design center last year and is about to finalize the assembly line for its first electric car. It’s also putting the finishing touches on a new paint shop that allows customers to choose from nearly 100 hues.
Bentley plans to launch a plug-in hybrid or an EV each year until 2035. While the all-electric target for 2030 has been abandoned, the company still aims to become “exclusively electric in the future.”
However, not everything looks positive for the future. Bentley plans to streamline operations by eliminating up to 275 roles, affecting management, agency, and non-manufacturing employees. It describes the move as an “organizational adjustment” aimed at reducing costs and offsetting investments in new products, including its EV.
Bentley EXP 15 Design Vision Concept
Motor1's Take: As with other luxury brands, last year wasn’t exactly smooth sailing for Bentley. With the W12 out of the picture, it’s no surprise sales were down. However, with a new EV on the way and a fresh design language, the company has reasons to be optimistic.
While its historic rivals at Rolls-Royce began their EV journey with a stately coupe, Bentley is playing it safe with an SUV. Interestingly, it claims the upcoming model will create a new segment: the “Luxury Urban SUV.” While the word “urban” might suggest something small, that won’t be the case. It’ll be smaller than the Bentayga, but still far from compact.
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