Back in December, Lamborghini announced that it would delay its first EV, based on the Lanzador concept first shown in 2023. The car, originally set to launch in 2028, was pushed back to 2029 amid softening demand for high-end electric cars. Now, we're hearing from CEO Stephan Winkelmann that the car might not be an EV at all.
"We took two decisions so far based on the fact that the acceptance curve of the electric cars worldwide and globally, not only in our type of segment, is flattening, and this is even more true for our type [of cars]," Winkelmann told Australian publication CarExpert.
"The first decision is that Urus replacement would be, again, a plug-in hybrid, and that we postpone the launch of the fourth [model]," he said.
In addition to delaying the EV, Lamborghini recently walked back plans to make the next-generation Urus SUV an EV, instead saying it would now be a plug-in hybrid.
When asked whether Lamborghini would consider a plug-in powertrain for the production Lanzador, Winkelmann didn't dismiss the idea.
"We have to decide whether we go one way or the other very soon, but today is still… it’s possible [that it is a plug-in hybrid], but it’s something which is still very open," he said.
This stance is a strong departure from just a few years ago, when Lamborghini seemed determined to release an electric car to add to its portfolio of series production vehicles. The company has been steadfast in hybridizing its lineup, first with the flagship Revuelto, before introducing the Urus SE hybrid. This year saw the launch of the Temerario, rounding out the company's portfolio.
As for when the EV will arrive, Winkelmann stresses that the right timing is everything.
"Again, we said we don’t need to be there at the beginning, but we need to be there when the people are ready to buy these things," he told CarExpert. "And for me, this is paramount for the success of a company like ours.
"We are a technology-driven company, but about certain things, you have always to look into the emotional side of the people which it is surrounding, and the second buyer for sure… because performance is driven not by just acceleration or top speed, but by emotion."
Of course, Lamborghini remains committed to internal combustion for as long as it'll be allowed. The company plans to rely on pathways such as e-fuels to make that happen.
"If sustainable fuels are coming, then this is a huge opportunity to keep internal combustion engines," Winkelmann said. "Besides that, for sure, the headline should be, we will keep them as long as possible, at least for the two supercars."
