Lamborghini CEO Defends Plug-In Hybrid Strategy Amid Ferrari’s Electric Vehicle Controversy Ferrari’s unveiling of its first all-electric vehicle, the Luce, in May 2026 at the Vela di Calatrava, Città dello Sport in Rome sparked significant backlash, prompting rival automaker Lamborghini’s CEO, Stephan Winkelmann, to publicly endorse his company’s decision to abandon full-electric vehicle development in favor of plug-in hybrid models. Winkelmann, speaking exclusively to CNBC, emphasized that each brand must chart its own path, stating, “every brand, every company has to decide for themselves.” His remarks came after Lamborghini announced it would cancel its all-electric Lanzador and a hybrid version of its Urus SUV, redirecting resources toward plug-in hybrid technology. The Luce, designed by former Apple chief Jony Ive, marked Ferrari’s bold shift toward electrification. However, the vehicle’s minimalist interior, featuring screens and a bubbly, unconventional exterior, drew sharp criticism from fans and industry figures. Ferrari’s stock plummeted following the reveal, with shares falling 8% in Milan and 5.3% in New York. Analysts attributed the decline partly to “design hate,” with Michael Field of Morningstar noting that many Ferrari enthusiasts feared the EV concept diluted the brand’s identity as a symbol of classic supercar design and combustion-engine power. Winkelmann declined to directly address the Luce or its reception, but he reiterated that innovation must align with market demands rather than being driven by trends. “By observing the market, we saw that the acceptance curve [of EVs] for our type of customers is not increasing,” he explained. “Therefore, we decided to move away from a full-electric car into a plug-in hybrid.#ferrari #lamborghini #stephan_winkelmann #jony_ive #volkswagen_group
