Lamborghini CEO: Will be a 'game changer' when we move into electrification

Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winklemann talks launching the Urus Performante during Pebble Beach, and the future of the brand.

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- Well, it's Monterey Car Week 2022. I'm at the Lamborghini stand with CEO Stephan Winkelmann. A big reveal here today at Pebble Beach. Stephan, thanks for joining us. Tell us what's behind us right now.

STEPHAN WINKELMANN: This is the Lamborghini Urus Performante. It's the world premiere here today at the Quail Lodge. It's a car which is lower, wider, lighter, and more powerful than the one before. So all in all, it's a real super sports car dressed in an SUV.

- So how important is it for you to launch this car, one of your most popular cars, here at Pebble Beach Week, at Monterey Car Week?

STEPHAN WINKELMANN: I think that the Monterey Car Week is getting more and more important, not only on a US level for the press, but also globally. And on top of that, it's also very important that we have a lot of customers and people which are able to buy into the brand here today. And therefore, it is a melange, which is incredible.

- So you know Lamborghini had a pretty strong 2021, one of your best years ever, if not your best year. 2022 shaping up to be a good year as well. How important is this new Urus to that performance?

STEPHAN WINKELMANN: The year 2022, so far, is incredible. So the first six months, we had the best result ever. And in terms of operating result, the first six months are better than the entire year of 2021. And this was already a record year.

- Really?

STEPHAN WINKELMANN: Yes.

- Oh, wow.

STEPHAN WINKELMANN: So it's incredible what we have achieved so far. And as we speak, we always sell more cars that we are able to produce. So if you buy a Lamborghini today, you have to wait until the beginning of 2024 until you get it. And it's difficult to make a forecast because the economy is not so stable anymore.

- So looking ahead, this car is one of the first, I believe, three cars coming out in the next few months. When are we going to see, potentially, a hybrid Lamborghini?

STEPHAN WINKELMANN: We are starting with the hybridization next year. So the year '23 and '24, we will have all the cars hybridized, starting with the follower of the Aventador in '23. And then '24, we will have then the hybridization of the Urus. And then at the end of '24, there will be the follower of the Huracan, also this one hybrid. So by the end of 2024, all the lineup will be hybridized.

- So I wanted to ask you about that, the Cor Tauri plan that Lamborghini has in place to eventually make the whole lineup electrified and have an electric car come out in the back half of this decade. How is that plan going as of right now?

STEPHAN WINKELMANN: Right. We need approval for this car. It's clear that we are a small company. So we have to put the things in a row. And the plan is to have the fourth model as a full electric car coming in 2028.

- We spoke yesterday. And what was brought up was-- you mentioned synthetic fuels. And I know that's a big part of the Audi group, which is the parent company of Lamborghini. Is that something you think is a possible solution to keeping on extending the naturally aspirated or gas-powered cars?

STEPHAN WINKELMANN: It's clear that, for sure, we will have, by the end of the decade, two out of the four cars, we will have fully electrified. On the super sports cars, we have to see what we can do also after 2030, if there's an opportunity with synthetic fuels or if there is a ban of the petrol engines, which is seemingly coming up, at least in the European Union.

So this is something we don't have to decide now. But it's clear that we have to wait some years to take a decision. This is something which is positive for Lamborghini. So we don't need to decide now.

- So lastly, we're here at Monterey Car Week at the Quail Motorsports event, a really great place to meet clients, meet people, fans of cars and, of course, Lamborghini. What are you most excited about for the future of Lamborghini?

STEPHAN WINKELMANN: For us, the excitement is to live in a time where you have a game changer, which is moving from one type of car into something which has never been there before and to continue to realize dream cars for our customers. And this is something which is a task. But I'm very proud and honored that they can be part of it.