Lamborghini SpA is holding off on making its roaring sports cars fully electric for now as skepticism grows around the technology.
While performance won’t be an issue for an electric car, some emotional aspects such as sound The Huracan’s V10 engine is “impossible to replicate,” Lamborghini boss Stephan Winkelmann said. The brand, owned by Volkswagen AG, also remains open to using e-fuels if regulations become more favorable.
All-electric super sports cars “are not on sale yet,” Winkelmann said in an interview. “It’s too early and we’ll have to see if that happens in the future.”
These are tense times for the high-end auto sector, which is grappling with how to cope with regulatory pressure to cut emissions as demand for electric vehicles slows and governments cut subsidies for the technology. Mercedes-Benz Group AG has stopped developing separate bases for electric luxury sedans to save money and plans to sell gasoline-powered vehicles longer than expected.
Lamborghini rival Ferrari NV has moved further in its electrification drive and plans to open a hybrid and electric supercar production plant in Maranello, Italy, next month. Its first all-electric model is due next year.
BYD Co. beat both sides by unveiling a 1.68 million yuan ($232,452) electric sports car in February. The Yangwang U9 will initially only be sold in China, where Lamborghini’s presence is “limited,” Winkelmann said.
Lamborghini has had success selling plug-in hybrids, including Sports car Revueltobut its first all-electric model, the Lanzador two-door crossover, won’t arrive until 2028.
However, the automaker is overhauling its supply chain and production to produce Lamborghinis with 40% less carbon emissions than now by 2030, Winkelmann said. When it comes to synthetic fuels, the brand benefits from working with Porsche, another luxury automaker in Volkswagen’s portfolio.
E-fuels could be in the spotlight in two years when the European Union considers its plan to effectively ban sales of new combustion engine cars by 2035.
“That might be an opportunity if things change,” Winkelmann said.