Rolls Royce has ruled out using a hybrid powertrain in its future vehicles, opting instead to offer all-electric models once the technology is optimized.
This comes straight from the company’s CEO Torsten Müller-Otvös, who said to Autocar that electric powertrains represent the future of motoring but their customers will not tolerate the “compromise” of hybrid technology.
“Electrification is the way forward – and there will be no in between steps for us like hybridisation,” said Müller-Otvös. “It is the propulsion system for the future, make no error. There is a time - nobody can predict when - when there will be no combustion engines. That will take a long, long time, but it will happen.”
But why is Rolls Royce so negative about hybrid technology? “The Rolls-Royce brand is not, in a way, a game-changer when it comes to revolutionary technology,” Müller-Otvös commented. “Our customers are doing so for reasons of utmost luxury, so there can be no imperfections.”
“Compromises, when it comes to technology or operating our products, are unacceptable. People are more interested in highly reliable substance than to be a test field for new technology.”
As for adopting autonomous technology, the Rolls Royce CEO said that they will eventually offer self-driving features in their cars, though it’s not a priority for them. “For our customers it’s not really a requirement because many have chauffeurs. So for that reason, it exists already. I haven’t had a single customer say to me: ‘Torsten, when is the autonomous Rolls-Royce coming?’”
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