Rolls-Royce Scraps EV-Only Plan, Promises To Keep The V12 Alive

Rolls-Royce was once all in on electrification. When it launched the Spectre in 2022, the British luxury automaker pledged to go all-electric by 2030. Now, like so many other automakers before it, Rolls-Royce says it’s scaling back its EV ambitions.

In an interview with The Times in the UK, newly appointed CEO Chris Brownridge revealed that the company has dropped its plan to go EV-only by 2030. Instead, Rolls-Royce will continue producing its iconic 12-cylinder engines for the foreseeable future.

Rolls-Royce Spectre

According to Brownridge, a combination of relaxed regulations and slowing demand forced the company to reconsider its strategy. "For every client that loves an electric vehicle, there is one who does not," he said. Still, he acknowledged that the original decision to go fully electric was "right at the time."

Earlier this year, BMW Group confirmed it would continue producing combustion engines, including Rolls-Royce’s V12. The company noted it can meet Euro 7 emissions standards with updates to components like the exhaust system.

For now, Rolls-Royce has no plans to discontinue the Spectre EV. While demand was strong at launch for the 2023 model year, sales dropped significantly in 2025, falling 47 percent to just 1,002 units. Even so, it still narrowly outsold the Ghost, which only recorded 993 units.

15

Source: Rolls-Royce

Motor1's Take: Rolls-Royce’s original plan to go fully electric by 2030 wasn’t without merit—the quiet, smooth nature of electric powertrains suits luxury vehicles well. But with EV demand cooling, the company is adjusting its course.

The Latest From Rolls-Royce

You Don't Need a V-12: Why Rolls-Royce's New Performance Car Is Better As an EV

The Rolls-Royce Cullinan Is Even Better As a Black Badge: Video Review