Automotive News Europe — 2024-05-20
Automotive Industry
The brand's first EV, the two-door Lanzador crossover, will not arrive until 2028.
Lamborghini is holding off for now on making its sports cars full-electric as skepticism around the technology grows.
While performance will not be an issue in an EV, some emotional aspects — such as the sound of the Huracan’s V-10 engine — cannot be replicated, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann said.
The Volkswagen Group-owned brand also remains open to use e-fuels if regulation becomes more favorable.
Full-electric sports supercars are “not something that is selling so far,” Winkelmann said in an interview. “It’s too early, and we have to see down the road if and when this is going to happen.”
It’s a tense time in the high-end automotive sector, which is deliberating how to deal with regulatory pressure to lower emissions as demand for EVs slows and governments scale back subsidies for the technology.
Mercedes-Benz has stopped development of separate underpinnings for electric luxury sedans to save money and plans to sell cars running on gasoline longer than expected.
Lamborghini’s rival Ferrari is further along in its electrification push, and next month plans to open a factory that will make hybrid and electric supercars in Maranello, Italy. Its first full-electric model is due next year.
BYD has beaten both to market after unveiling a 1.68 m yuan ($232,452) electric sports car in February 2024.
The Yangwang U9 will initially be sold only in China, where Lamborghini’s exposure is “limited,” Winkelmann said.
Lamborghini has had success selling plug-in hybrids including the Revuelto sports car, but its first full-electric model — the two-door Lanzador crossover — will not arrive until 2028.
Still, the automaker is overhauling its supply chain and production to by 2030 produce Lamborghinis with 40% fewer carbon dioxide emissions than currently, Winkelmann said.
When it comes to synthetic fuels, the brand is benefiting from work at Porsche, another luxury-car maker in parent Volkwagen Group’s portfolio.
E-fuels could come into greater focus in two years, when the European Union will review its plan to effectively ban new combustion-engine car sales by 2035.
Said Winkelmann: “There might be an opportunity if things change.”