dialogue | bentley motors' anrique: transition period for plug-in hybrid systems may be longer than expected
2024-09-03
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at this year's chengdu auto show, bentley motors released three edition 8 series models, including the bentley flying spur, continental gt and continental gt convertible. all three new cars are equipped with bentley's 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged v8 fuel engine.
bentley motors china, hong kong and macau executive general manager andreas ritter. photo/photo provided by the interviewee
in an interview with the beijing news shell finance reporter, bentley motors' executive general manager for mainland china, hong kong and macau, andrei an, said that bentley motors' launch of these three models is intended to pay tribute to bentley's 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged v8 fuel engine. the fuel engine will not be completely eliminated, and bentley motors will gradually introduce a new ultra-high-performance hybrid system for new models.
still optimistic about sales performance in china this year
beijing news shell finance:faced with declining sales in the ultra-luxury car market, how does bentley motors view this year's market trends and what countermeasures has it taken?
an ruike:the sales performance of ultra-luxury cars is closely related to the market economic environment and economic cycle. taking 2021 and 2022 as an example, the ultra-luxury car market is at its peak sales in these two years, and bentley motors has also set a sales record in china. this is closely related to china's domestic economic recovery, and consumers are gradually resuming car purchases and other consumption. in this case, the growth in ultra-luxury car sales is in line with the market trend at the time.
today, as the economic situation fluctuates, market demand also fluctuates accordingly. bentley motors will follow the trend of economic development and flexibly adjust the factory's production plan according to changes in market demand.
beijing news shell finance:what sales targets has bentley motors set for the chinese market this year? will the forecast be adjusted?
an ruike:although sales this year have declined compared to the same period last year, we have observed a relatively positive market trend, so we remain optimistic about this year's sales performance in china. bentley motors expects sales in china to increase in the second half of this year, which will be partly due to the launch of new models. the new continental gt speed and the new continental gt convertible speed are now available for pre-order, and bentley motors is confident in the future market performance of these two new models.
plans to launch first pure electric model in 2026
beijing news shell finance:does the launch of three edition 8 models at the chengdu auto show herald the end of bentley's pure fuel era? what is the current progress of bentley's electrification?
an ruike:the three edition 8 models launched by bentley motors this time are intended to pay tribute to bentley's 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged v8 fuel engine, hoping to establish a deeper emotional connection with customers and form a unique bond between customers, the brand and the models. the fuel engine will not be completely eliminated. next, bentley motors will gradually introduce a new ultra-high-performance hybrid system for new models. this power system consists of a new 4.0-liter v8 engine and an electric motor.
the launch of the fourth-generation continental gt speed is an important milestone for bentley motors to offer plug-in hybrid options across its entire model range, in line with the bentley brand’s “beyond100” business strategy.
beijing news shell finance:how do you view the current electrification transformation of the ultra-luxury market?
an ruike:bentley's strategic direction towards an electrified future remains unchanged. bentley has made significant investments and achieved many results in this area, such as the new ultra-high-performance hybrid system equipped in the just-launched fourth-generation continental gt speed, which also reflects bentley's continued advancement in this strategy.
bentley motors is currently steadily advancing its electrification process and plans to launch its first pure electric bentley model in 2026. in this process, plug-in hybrid power options will continue to play an important transitional role.
beijing news shell finance:there are differences in the demand, progress and speed of electrification between the european and american markets and the chinese market. will brands adjust their electrification strategies according to different markets?
an ruike:the electrification strategy is consistent, and bentley motors will continue to introduce the brand's latest ultra-luxury innovative products to the chinese market. the transition period for plug-in hybrid systems may be longer than expected, and bentley motors will provide customers with more hybrid version models to choose from.
beijing news shell finance:will the decision-making factors of chinese high-net-worth users for purchasing bentley luxury cars change due to these intelligent and electrified models? does the bentley brand have any targeted measures?
an ruike:the technological elements installed in bentley models focus on providing customers with an easy and enjoyable driving experience, especially the driving assistance technology, which focuses on helping car owners relieve driving stress and improve convenience in congested road conditions or other complex conditions.
bentley motors will fully introduce the latest digital ecosystem my bentley app studio in all its 2025 models, and carry out in-depth localization development work for the chinese market, allowing customers to seamlessly integrate daily used applications into the in-car infotainment system.
wang linlin, financial reporter of beijing news shell
editor: wang jinyu
proofread by jianing
