As debate continues around the future of electric supercars, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann has defended the company’s decision to move away from plans for a fully electric vehicle, stating that the strategy has proven to be the right choice for the luxury automaker.
Speaking during a virtual interview, Winkelmann said Lamborghini’s decision to cancel its all-electric Lanzador and an electric version of the Urus SUV in favor of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles aligns better with customer expectations and market demand.
“Our decision to go from [traditional internal combustion engine] to plug-in was a very important one for us, and it worked out,” Winkelmann said. “We don’t speak about our competitors … but everybody has their own strategy.”
While avoiding direct comments on Ferrari’s newly unveiled all-electric Luce, he emphasized that innovation remains critical but should not be pursued solely for its own sake or imposed on customers.
“By observing the market … we saw that the acceptance curve [of EVs] for our type of customers is not increasing, and that therefore we decided to move away from a full-electric car into a plug-in hybrid,” he added.
Lamborghini, which is owned by Volkswagen, joins several global automakers that have scaled back EV investments amid weaker-than-expected demand for fully electric vehicles.
The remarks come after Ferrari’s launch of the Luce, its first all-electric model, triggered a strong market reaction. Ferrari shares fell approximately 8% in Milan and 5.3% in New York following the vehicle’s unveiling in Italy.
Analysts attributed part of the negative response to concerns over the vehicle’s design. According to Morningstar Chief Equity Strategist Michael Field, many enthusiasts believe Ferrari’s move into EVs could weaken the brand’s identity, which has long been associated with traditional styling and high-performance combustion engines.
Designed by former Apple design chief Jony Ive, the Luce features a minimalist interior with digital screens and a distinctive exterior design that differs significantly from Ferrari’s conventional styling.
The vehicle also drew criticism from former Ferrari executive Luca di Montezemolo and Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini. “I hope that they take off the prancing horse [logo] from that car,” di Montezemolo reportedly said during a business conference in Rome.
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