Lamborghini may be watching China’s rapidly expanding performance-car industry, but its CEO doesn’t appear particularly concerned about the threat from the country’s new generation of supercars.
Lamborghini chairman and CEO Stephan Winkelmann suggested that Chinese manufacturers are not currently direct rivals to the Italian marque, particularly in the high-end performance segment.
“We don’t see this as a threat. Because they are doing electric cars. And if we say we are not doing electric cars for a reason, then there is also an idea behind how we look at our Chinese competitors or Chinese manufacturers.”
That may sound surprising when cars such as the 1500+ hp Denza Z are beginning to push extraordinary power figures. Yet there is an important distinction: the Denza is fully electric, while Lamborghini continues to focus on hybrid powertrains.
For Lamborghini, outright horsepower is only part of the equation. Brand identity, design, sound, exclusivity and the emotional experience of driving a supercar remain just as important.
That doesn’t mean Chinese manufacturers can be ignored forever because Winkelmann also said, “I always say, never say never.”
Source: Auto Express
