CEO of Lamborghini: “We’re not afraid of the idea of becoming fully electric”
Despite the already assumed commitment to fully electrified models in its fleet, Lamborghini will focus on electric vehicles only when the future directions of synthetic fuels are clear.
Stephan Winkelmann, president and CEO of Lamborghini, stated to the British Autocar that the company "can afford to keep its options open for a few more years."
Winkelmann said that sports cars on synthetic fuels would be an easier step for them, but that they have to wait and see how lawmakers decide on them and whether they can reach a global agreement on their sustainability.
"While we are a global company, it's not good if they are allowed only in one area. They must be real and usable everywhere... The plan is for our everyday cars (SUV Urus and the new Lanzador GT) to become fully electric by the end of the decade. As for super sports cars, they will be hybrid. Given that the typical development cycle for a new sports car is four years, we still have some time to observe and wait until the picture becomes clearer," Winkelmann emphasized.
Not afraid of becoming fully electric
Winkelmann says he is not afraid of the idea of Lamborghini becoming fully electric, even on its most powerful models.
"When I look back five or six years ago, when we made the decision on hybrid drive, it was a tough decision. No one thought it would be accepted. So, you have to think about public opinion like a movie, not like a snapshot," he added.
"It is clear that there will come a moment when electric sports cars will be even more emotional than conventional engine cars. The power output is already impressive. What we have to prove is not the performance but the dynamics of handling and excitement," he said.
Winkelmann doubtful only about scalability
He said that his doubt about synthetic fuels is only about scalability.
“By 2035, there will still be billions of internal combustion engine vehicles on the roads, and if we want to make the biggest difference in global emissions, the theoretically best way to do that is e-fuel. However, I am not convinced it is feasible because the entire industry is currently investing in battery technology," he concluded.
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