CAR MANUFACTURER’S ELECTRIC VEHICLE PLANS FOR 2022 AND BEYOND
Here we have a quick look at four big names in the motor industry, what they have now and what they have planned
Every major car maker has electric vehicles available to buy or planned for the next few years, here we look at four prestigious manufacturers.
By the end of last year, 2021, some 50 pure-electric cars were available to buy from showrooms around Europe and that number is going to grow considerably in the coming years, with sales of new diesel and petrol cars being banned from 2030, so says the UK government and other are following so every manufacturer wanting to stay in business will have no choice including these big names.
Regardless of electric motor or engine Premier Bodyshops will be here for every change the industry makes. In Estepona, Spain since 2009.
Aston Martin
On sale now None Coming soon Pure-electric sports car in 2025; electric SUV in 2025 or 2026
Aston Martin had planned the development of the Rapid-E, an all-electric GT, but that project was scraped with the booting out of former boss Andy Palmer, whose idea it was, in May of 2020, following the brand’s disastrous stock market flotation and financial losses. At the same time, the company also cancelled a reboot of the Lagonda badge as a luxury electric sub-brand.
That allowed Aston to focus on its first SUV, the DBX, which has unsurprisingly proved to be the firm’s most popular and profitable model. Then Aston was able to finalise its hybrid hyper car, the Valkyrie, which eventually began deliveries in this year, 2022. Now the focus can shift to its electrification strategy proper. It no longer has to worry about developing its own electric powertrains, as all such will be provided by Merc along with its electric chassis underpinnings. Mercedes Benz will obviously be taking more Aston Martin shares for their assistance. This deal applies until 2027, buying Aston a healthy dose of time to regain its footing. In March 2022 Aston signed an agreement with the Northumberland-based battery manufacturer British Volt to jointly develop and produce new battery tech meaning that it is also aiming to find its own way as regards the batteries that will underpin its electrification.
Aston’s first plug-in hybrid model, the Valhalla supercar, is due to begin deliveries in 2024 with, according to the firm’s latest boss Tobias Moers, an electrified powertrain option across all product lines by 2026. The company intends that all of its core models will be fully electric by 2030.
Bentley
On sale now None Coming soon Unspecified pure-electric model due by 2025
Adrian Hallmark, boss at Bentley, has been clear that the company’s well-to-do clientele are “desperate for a luxury electric product”. For a short while, Bentley customers could scratch that itch with the Bentayga plug-in hybrid, but that powertrain has been pulled from sale.
With the news that the UK government and others will ban all petrol and diesel cars by 2030 (with hybrids granted a five year extension), Bentley confidently assured the press that it would be ready for the deadline, with the boss confirming that by 2030, the marque’s entire range will be electric. It will be a sad day when we say goodbye to the famous W12 engine.
It’ll be a quick turnaround, though with the car maker previously saying that its first electric effort isn’t set to arrive until 2025. It makes things easier that the Crewe-based car manufacturer can lean on her sister-brands Audi and VW for the electric drive tech, but as ever, Bentley will want its own electric products to have a distinct character and there is no chance it will rush out a model.
Ferrari
On sale now None Coming soon Pure-electric model expected in 2025
Ferrari has finally confirmed that it will produce a fully-electric car by 2025. For many years this car manufacturer ignored the idea, a sign of the times we think. Ferrari’s parent, Exor, agreed a deal in September 2021 with design-duo Sir Jony Ive and Marc Newson – formerly of Apple, and the styling heads behind the iMac and iPad.
Their first job will be to assist in the development of an electric Ferrari.
The company has dabbled with hybrid tech in the La Ferrari — and the newer SF90 plug in and 296 GTB have some electric range, albeit only 16 miles — its first pure-EV isn’t expected until at least 2025. Leaked patent documents from earlier this year appear to suggest that the first fully electric Ferrari will be a GT similar in look with the 812 superfast.
In 2020, Ferrari CEO Louis Camilleri said his company would never go fully electric, and in fact not even 50% of the model range will be pure-electric. That may well be true up to 2030 but beyond regulations in key markets will no doubt determine Ferrari’s strategy for the longer term.
Porsche
On sale now Taycan, Taycan Cross Turismo Coming soon Macan Electric (2022), Cayman and Boxster Electric
Sports car manufacturer Porsche has no concerns about embracing the potential of electric power. Its first pure-electric model, the Taycan, came out in early 2021 to rave reviews, (other than from my farther in law) and there’s now a little family of them including the 4S, the Turbo and the Turbo S (obviously there is no Turbo!).
An estate version of the Taycan, called the Cross Turismo, launched this year, 2022 and it’s a mix of high performance and good range.
An electrification of Porsche’s wider range is scheduled to take place in the not too distant future, the Macan SUV is due to be made electric for its next generation in 2022, and pure-electric versions of the 718 Cayman and 718 Boxster models being developed for launch in the same year. It will come as welcome news too many that an electric version of the much-adored 911 is not expected this side of 2030.