Rolls to go EV-only from 2030

Luxury brand's existing cars to retain V12 power, but all-new models will be electric

- MARK TISSHAW

AIl new Rolls-Royce models will arrive exclusively with battery power as the firm plans to go electric-only by the end of 2030.

The Rolls-Royce Spectre coupé (driven, p42), the British brand's first electric car, will go into production later this year.

Boss Torsten Müller-Ötvös confirmed that Series 2 facelift versions of the company's current range of models - the Ghost and Phantom saloons and Cullinan SUV - would retain their V12 engines, but after that the brand would switch to electric power.

"By the end of 2030, there will be no more V12," he said. "Series 2 cars will be V12; brand-new Rolls-Royces will always be electric.

"We've not fallen out of love with the V12, and we will invest in it to meet new requirements. It's a lovely transformation from V12 to EV."

No launch dates are being put on new models, nor is there any commitment to any standard production lengths.

"It's 10 years or even more," said Müller-Ötvös. "The first Phantom was 14 years. The Phantom is 10% of our volume and they go for over €1 million, so I wouldn't be surprised to see it go on and on [as a V12]."