Most automakers going into electrification started out with hybrids, then plug-in hybrids, and then moved into all-electric vehicles. However, the automakers who are late to the game are now choosing to directly go to an all-electric powertrain.
Rolls-Royce confirmed that it’s in their plan with an upcoming new all-electric Phantom.
The CEO of BMW’s luxury British brand, Torsten Müller-Ötvös, confirmed the news to reporters in Switzerland this week (via Autocar):
“We will go full electric, we don’t do any interim steps. Emissions-free is emissions-free.”
He said that the Phantom is likely going to see the first Rolls-Royce electric powertrain.
Müller-Ötvös admitted that they haven’t received any demand from their loyal customers about going electric, but they see the industry going that way, especially in Europe with increasingly stringent emission regulations.
Electrek’s Take
Rolls-Royce isn’t the first name you’d associate with electric vehicles, especially since they were known for the internal combustion engines from cars to planes, but that’s not the case anymore.
The engine-making business has little to do with the cars at this point and the Rolls-Royce car brand is now just a subsidiary of BMW, which has recently been pushing for electrification.
It was only a matter of time before it trickled down to the British brand at some point and now we learn that it will start with an all-electric Phantom.
Previously, BMW included Rolls-Royce in their series of all-electric ‘Vision’ concept with a crazy Batmobile-looking electric vehicle – pictured above – that was never meant for production.
But it’s now more encouraging to hear the CEO talking about electrifying a specific vehicle in their lineup.
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