When a name like Lamborghini industry listens. And this time, the words of Tonino Lamborghini, son of the legendary Ferruccio, are likely to provoke a reaction. Going against the grain of the prevailing discourse, the Italian businessman questions the idea that electric cars are necessarily more environmentally friendly.
«Let’s not pretend it’s green»
Tonino Lamborghini shared his vision of the current automotive market at the Automotoretró show in Parma. While he admits to appreciating electric cars, he is very skeptical about their real environmental impact.
In his view, the problem is not limited to vehicle use, but concerns the entire production chain. Battery manufacture, energy costs, recycling that’s still imperfect… these are all factors that, in his view, strongly qualify the green message. «Let’s not say it’s green, because today it’s not,» he asserts bluntly.
What’s more, he goes so far as to defend a provocative idea: continuing to use existing cars could, in some cases, be less polluting than mass-producing new electric vehicles. «We pollute less with old engines», he sums up.
A different view of the automotive market
This position is part of a broader reflection on the evolution of the industry. Tonino Lamborghini believes that the European market, and the Italian market in particular, is in dire straits today, going so far as to describe it as «almost dead». He proposes a very pragmatic approach: produce elsewhere, sell elsewhere, and adapt to the accelerating globalization of the automotive sector.
His view of electrification is far from ideological. He does not reject the technology, but rather criticizes the way it is presented to the general public, often as a miracle solution.
The rise of Chinese manufacturers
Paradoxically, the man who criticizes the discourse surrounding electric vehicles is quick to hail another major phenomenon: the meteoric rise of Chinese automakers. Tonino Lamborghini openly acknowledges their impressive progress, both in terms of technology and value for money. «Today, they make beautiful, competitive and highly advanced cars,» he explains, far from the clichés of yesteryear.
Even to the point of personally considering buying one. «I’ll probably go for a Chinese hybrid,» he confides, reminding us once again that these technologies should not be idealized in ecological terms. One month ago, he said, taking off his hat in front of those brands capable of competing with the incumbent European manufacturers.
An electric future… but without enthusiasm
Alongside him, Italian engineer Gian Paolo Dallara offers a slightly different, but equally lucid vision. In his view, the future will indeed be electric, even if this doesn’t necessarily arouse enthusiasm. He imagines a world where cars will be autonomous, perhaps shared, and often produced in China. A development that would profoundly transform our relationship with the automobile. But not everything will disappear. Both Dallara and Lamborghini agree on one essential point: the passion car will survive. «There will always be room for supercars,» insists Dallara.
