Lamborghini chief executive Stephan Winkelmann has confirmed that the iconic Italian carmaker will continue producing vehicles powered by internal combustion engines for at least another decade, citing waning consumer enthusiasm for fully electric cars.
Speaking to the BBC during a visit to Lamborghini’s London showroom, Winkelmann said the brand’s customers still crave “the sound and emotion” that only petrol engines can deliver. He noted that while the global automotive industry races toward electrification, luxury buyers appear increasingly hesitant to embrace electric vehicles (EVs), opening the door for a stronger focus on hybrid technology instead.
“Today, enthusiasm for electric cars is going down,” Winkelmann said. “We see a huge opportunity to stay with internal combustion engines and a battery system much longer than expected.”
The company will decide within weeks whether its upcoming model, the Lanzador, will launch as a fully electric car or a plug-in hybrid. The decision marks a potential shift from Lamborghini’s earlier commitment to electrification. Plans for an all-electric successor to the Urus SUV, originally expected in 2029, have also been delayed until at least 2035.
Currently, Lamborghini produces three main models — the Revuelto and Temerario supercars, both plug-in hybrids, and the Urus luxury SUV, which is available in both hybrid and conventional petrol variants. The Urus accounts for more than half of the brand’s global sales. The company also offers a limited-edition model, the Fenomeno, a €3 million “super-sports” car capable of exceeding 215 mph, with only 30 units planned for production.
While rivals such as Ferrari are pressing ahead with electrification — Ferrari’s first all-electric model, the Elettrica, is set to debut next year — Winkelmann said Lamborghini will take a more measured approach. “Continuing to use internal combustion engines for another 10 years will be paramount for the success of the company,” he said.
Winkelmann also stressed that Lamborghini remains committed to social responsibility but argued that its environmental impact is minimal compared to mass-market carmakers. “We are selling 10,000 cars in a world producing 80 million a year, so our impact in terms of CO₂ emissions is not that important,” he said.
Under current regulations, the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned in both the EU and the UK from 2035. However, exemptions for low-volume manufacturers — such as Lamborghini, which sold just 795 cars in the UK last year — mean the brand will likely continue building combustion engines well into the next decade.
