MARANELLO: Electric and hybrid models should make up 80% of Ferrari's sales by 2030, the luxury carmaker told investors today, vowing to produce "even more unique" cars as it makes the expensive shift to zero-emission models.
"We believe we can use the electric engine to enhance the performance of our cars," chief executive Benedetto Vigna said today as he unveiled the company's long-awaited new business plan.
Vigna confirmed the Italian carmaker's plans to launch its first electric model in 2025, and Ferrari said it would launch 15 new models from 2023 to 2026.
"Everything we do will always focus on being distinctively Ferrari," company chairman John Elkann said in opening remarks.
"The opportunity set of electrification and electronics will allow us to make even more unique cars."
Ferrari expects fully-electric cars will make up 5% of sales in 2025 and 40% in 2030, Vigna said. Hybrid models should rise to 55% of sales in 2025 from 20% in 2021, before dropping to 40% in 2030.
Vigna said Ferrari would develop and build its own electric motors, inverters and battery modules for its electric models on a new assembly line at its plant here, while outsourcing non-core components to partners.
On its first SUV, "Purosangue" (Thoroughbred), Ferrari revealed it will be unveiled in September, with deliveries from 2023. Vigna said it would comprise no more than 20% of total annual sales and will have a V12 engine.
Faced with looming bans on fossil-fuel vehicles in Europe and China, major automakers have committed to spend more than US$250 billion (RM1.1tril) through 2025 on the shift to electrification, according to industry estimates.
Ferrari said it expects to invest €4.4 billion (RM20bil) by 2026, most of that on product development, while delivering EBITDA (core earnings) of €2.5-2.7 billion (up to RM12.3bil) by that year. The carmaker expects cumulated free cash flow of €4.6-4.9 billion (up to RM22.5bil) from 2022 to 2026.
Like other makers of sports cars, Ferrari's challenge goes beyond just the huge capital investments necessary to develop electric models that can match their high-performance fossil-fuel forebears.
Ferrari also sells an emotional experience to wealthy customers centred around the throaty roar of a powerful engine.
Customers and investors both like what Ferrari does today, with a long order book for cars that start from over €200,000 .
On the journey to electric sports cars, Ferrari needs to make sure its high-net worth customers and investors are along for the ride.
