- Stephan Winkelmann also notes the slow sales of fully electric supercars
- The Lamborghini boss believes that EVs lack some of the emotional aspects of ICE-powered supercars
- Lamborghini is open to synthetic e-fuels, hoping that regulations will eventually permit their use
The EV slowdown isn’t only affecting mainstream automakers but also high-end supercar companies. Lamborghini CEO, Stephan Winkelmann expressed his concerns about fully electric supercars, saying they lack some of the “emotional aspects” of the ICE-powered equivalents and don’t exhibit great sales potential currently.
While there is strong demand for the plug-in hybrid Lamborghini Revuelto, Winkelmann said that fully electric supercars are “not something that is selling so far”. This is why the CEO believes “it’s too early, and we have to see down the road if and when this is going to happen.”
While we have seen countless renderings of fully electric supercars over the years, the only one that received some kind of traction is the record-setting Rimac Nevera. And even this proved to be a hard sell compared to ICE-powered rivals, as noted by Mate Rimac himself.
With the ever-delayed Tesla Roadster and Ferrari’s first EV expected to arrive in 2025, the only other contestant currently is the Yangwang U9 from Chinese automaker BYD. However, as reported by Automotive News Europe, Winkelmann described Lamborghini’s exposure in China as “limited”, explaining why they don’t invest in a similar offering.
The plug-in hybrid Lamborghini Revuelto
Winkelmann doesn’t think that performance is an issue for EVs but said that some emotional aspects of ICE-powered supercars can’t be replicated. Plug-in hybrids that retain a V12 (Revuelto) or a V8 (Temerario, Urus) engine don’t have this issue, with their electric motor and battery pack making it possible to drive them in a zero-emission mode.
For the more distant future, Lamborghini is open to synthetic e-fuels, which are currently under development by VW Group stablemate Porsche. Sant’Agata hopes that regulations will permit their use, extending the life of combustion engines. Note that the European Union wants to effectively ban sales of ICE-powered vehicles by 2035, although the plan might be revised to exclude e-fuels.
Lamborghini currently offers a plug-in hybrid lineup comprising the Urus and the Revuelto, which will soon be joined by the Temerario. The first EV from Sant’Agata will be the Lazandor crossover and it’s expected in 2028. The company is also working on upgrading its supply chain and production facilities, to reduce CO2 emissions by 40 percent until 2030.
