End of an era: Lamborghini bids goodbye to combustion engines

Lamborghini has finally announced that this is the last year the brand will be offering pure combustion engines as it has decided to upgrade its entire lineup to plug-in hybrids. 

The brand has also asserted its plan to unveil the first plug-in next year before electrifying its complete offering by 2024. As for 2022, CEO Stephan Winkelmann said, Lamborghini has almost sold out its entire production run following record deliveries in 2021.

The company said it had delivered nearly 8,405 vehicles last year across the globe, which was nearly 13 percent up as compared to the last year. Europe was the largest contributor in sales. 

In an interview, Winkelmann said, "it will be the last time that we only offer combustion engines." As for 2022, "we have witnessed a very good start", he added.  

The brand has administered a record 1.5 billion euros ($1.7 billion) for the shift to plug-in hybrids and intends to offer a full-electric model in the second half of the decade. In contrast, brands like Aston Martin and Ferrari encounter an incredibly insubstantial task to uphold brand identity in the costly shift to electrification.

Amidst all of this, Winkelmann said, Lamborghini is still laboring on a conclusive design for its first electric car and is inclined to have a four-door model suited for daily usage. 

As per the investor presentation, the brand anticipates 20 percent more profit (before interest and tax margins) for 2021. That approximates with just over 25 percent returns during the first nine months of last year for Ferrari.

With anticipation to fetch accurate figures, due to be reported in March, Winkelmann said, "it should be in a range that surprises everyone, in a positive sense." 

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