Bentley says rich liberals are buying Tesla vehicles and they want some of those sales

Adrian Hallmark, Bentley’s CEO, commented on the British automaker’s electrification plans and how it plays into expanding their sales.

The CEO sees rich liberals buying Tesla vehicles and they want some of those sales too.

In a new interview with Automotive News, Hallmark says that they are targeting high net-worth individuals.

He added that many of them are considering going electric, but they are turning to Porsche and Tesla:

“About 40 percent of our customers would consider buying an EV. But more important, the two major demographic segments that we don’t currently sell to — the upper liberals and the post-moderns — account for 40 percent of high-net-worth individuals, and an EV is even more appealing to them than to our customers. They tend to buy Porsche and Tesla now. We see full-electric cars as another growth opportunity in a five- to 10-year period. In the meantime, all nameplates will have a hybrid option before 2025.”

Last year, Bentley unveiled a new all-electric concept called ‘EXP 12 Speed 6e Concept’ and it requested feedback on it, but it didn’t confirm any intention to bring the vehicle to production.

When asked if Bentley’s first all-electric car will be a new model or an electric version of an existing vehicle, Hallmark said:

“I can’t say yet, but our mission is to define grand touring. Whatever we do, it needs to be a continent-muncher [long-distance cruiser] but with style and comfort that is unrivaled. So when we build an electric car, it will be a Bentley first and foremost, and it will be an electric Bentley second.”

Earlier this year, Bentley also said that it is considering making its own all-electric car based on the upcoming Porsche-Audi electric platform.