During my recent visit to the Bentley factory in Crewe, near London, I was truly inspired by their innovative use of solar panels. With approximately 36,000 solar panels in operation, they are able to meet 75% of their daytime electricity demands. What’s more? They are continuously adding more to their setup, with the aim of making the factory completely carbon neutral. This commitment to sustainability, even without offering a single EV so far, is also a powerful statement towards a greener planet.
Also, a 1929 supercharged “Blower” Bentley on display at the Bentley Museum is worth more than 30 Million Pounds - translated to INR 320 Crore today. Nothing in 100 years would have yielded such a return on your investment by any imagination. This explains why luxury EVs priced north of INR 1 crore are finding few takers. If nothing, the battery will likely not last beyond a decade, and the overall technology will change, or the cost of lithium batteries will be reduced drastically. Think of it like diamond mining: if more Lithium reserves are found, that will give more supply, or if anyone cracks technology upgradation to overall EV battery tech, things could get disruptive. The word sustainability needs to be rethought. What if every customer buying a gasoline car must plant 10 – 50 trees yearly, depending on the kilometres driven? This could make the world greener. The emission norms are very rigid, and today’s automobiles pollute less than 50% of what they used to do 10-15 years ago, but they are arguably much more in numbers.
The demand, supply, and waiting period from booking to delivery is fast shrinking, and the auto manufacturers are beginning to feel the heat across segments. We offer great competitive cars and bikes, and today, picking the right one is a very confusing process. First, every segment has a spec-to-spec comparison, price, design, and features. You have credible options, and the dealer’s discount will rip your mind apart. I suggest letting your and your loved ones’ gut feelings take precedence once your mind. Another case study is BYD from China, which silently offers all the luxury features that German Luxury brands offer without any customisations and is much cheaper. Already, they have dethroned Tesla to become the biggest EV car manufacturer in the world. In China, Audi, BMW, and Mercedes have significant sales volumes. If more homegrown BYDs come up, like Geely, which owns Volvo, their volumes will nose-dive. Times are interesting for the future of the world automobile industry. In the last 100 years, there has been no such radical challenge; it was a gradual upward shift to faster and better cars, but with sustainability and EVs, that equation has been challenged. The winners will be those who place their bets smartly. For all you know, a solo EV future might not be the answer; it will take much longer to last the next 100 years as an automobile brand!
