Lamborghini ditches its first electric vehicle dream, branding EV development an “expensive hobby” amid customer rejection of silent supercars.
Story Highlights
- Lamborghini cancels the fully electric Lanzador, set for 2028, due to near-zero demand from luxury buyers craving engine roar.
- CEO Stephan Winkelmann pivots to a plug-in hybrid version by 2029, extending the use of internal combustion engines “as long as possible.”
- The decision reflects a broader luxury auto retreat from EVs, driven by cost savings after global flops like Porsche’s losses and Rimac’s underperformance.
- Customers prioritize “emotional experience” of ICE over electrification, validating market-driven realism over forced green agendas.
CEO Announces EV Cancellation
Stephan Winkelmann, CEO of Lamborghini, confirmed this week that the fully electric Lanzador has been canceled. The high-riding coupe-SUV concept, unveiled in 2023 at the Geneva International Motor Show in Qatar, promised 1,300 horsepower but drew virtually no interest from customers or dealers.
Winkelmann cited data showing EVs fail to deliver the visceral thrill of exhaust notes and performance. This internal decision, made by late 2025, halts EV development now.
Lamborghini scraps first EV launch, calls development 'expensive hobby' https://t.co/dNh2b6nRUv
— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) February 24, 2026
Shift to Hybrids Aligns with Market Realities
Lamborghini pivots to a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Lanzador by 2029, joining hybrids like the Revuelto and Temerario across its lineup. Winkelmann called full EV pursuit an “expensive hobby,” committing to PHEVs for the foreseeable future while noting “never say never.”
The brand, owned by Volkswagen via Audi, set sales records in 2022 and remained sold out through 2024 due to strong hybrid demand. This pragmatic move avoids unprofitable electrification pushed by regulators.
Industry-Wide Luxury EV Retreat
Global luxury EV sales stall as buyers reject silent machines lacking soul. Mate Rimac’s Nevera hypercar flopped in 2024 without successor plans. Porsche lost billions on weakening EV sales, delaying the electric Boxster and Cayman.
Bentley pushed full electrification five years back. Amid writedowns like Stellantis’ $26.5 billion and GM’s $7 billion, Lamborghini’s choice reinforces supercar culture’s preference for engine roar over green mandates.
Supercar enthusiasts gain as Lamborghini prioritizes sensory thrills. A T3 journalist, who drove the 2023 prototype, noted that a passing ICE supercar overshadowed it, questioning the essence of the EV Lamborghini. Car and Driver highlights EVs’ suitability for crossovers, not high-performance pomp.
Implications for Auto Sector and Buyers
In the short term, Lamborghini reduces R&D costs and accelerates PHEV launches. In the long term, it extends ICE-hybrid reliance until batteries improve, thereby indirectly challenging EU mandates.
Ferrari stands out with its sound-enhanced Luce EV. Customers, valuing emotional connection, drive this shift—dealers report almost zero EV interest. This validates conservative principles of market freedom over government-forced transitions, protecting innovation from overreach.
Lamborghini’s decision signals luxury buyers reject top-down electrification, favoring proven performance. As President Trump’s pro-energy policies boost American manufacturing in 2026, this aligns with rejecting the Biden-era green overreach that inflated costs without demand.
Sources:
T3: Lamborghini has cancelled its first EV because nobody wanted one
Car and Driver: Lamborghini Lanzador EV Cancelled
Fox Business: Lamborghini scraps first EV launch, calls development ‘expensive hobby’
Electrek: Luxury EV dead before it had a chance
