Ferrari won’t phase out internal combustion engines, citing arrogance.

Andrew JoseMay 16, 2023

Ferrari Pledges to Continue Manufacturing Internal Combustion Engine Cars Through 2030s

By Andrew Jose | May 15, 2023 at 1:25pm

Italian luxury sports car maker Ferrari has made a bold statement by pledging to continue manufacturing internal combustion engine automobiles through the 2030s. In an interview with the BBC, Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna said, “It is the client who must choose if they want an [internal combustion engine], a hybrid or an electric car.”

Despite the push towards electric vehicles by governments worldwide and authorities in the European Union, Ferrari believes that the choice should be left to the customer. The EU has agreed on legislation that would force automobile manufacturers in member states to attain a 100 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2035, which would effectively prohibit the manufacture of new fossil fuel-powered vehicles. However, Germany, Italy, and several Eastern European countries demand that exemptions be made for carbon-neutral e-fuels before such a ban is enacted.

While the move towards electric vehicles marks a significant “marketing challenge” for sports car manufacturers such as Ferrari, the company believes that internal combustion engine cars are an essential part of its heritage. According to The Wall Street Journal, Ferrari aims to start selling electric vehicles by 2025, offering a “unique driving experience.”

Should More Car Manufacturers Stick to Internal Combustion Engines?

Part of the traditional appeal of such vehicles is the noise made by their eight-to-12-cylinder internal combustion engines. In contrast, electric cars are relatively quiet. Luca di Montezemolo, who led the company in 2013, said that Ferrari “will never manufacture an electric car as long as I’m chairman.” However, the company shifted gears on the transition to electric vehicles as companies such as Porsche and Maserati began making them.

Ferrari said it would continue building internal combustible engine cars as they are an essential part of the company’s heritage. “We have to cope with the rules of all the countries we operate in,” Vigna told the BBC. “The reason we have three kinds of propulsion — ICE, hybrid, and electric — is that it allows us to cope with any regulation, all over the world.”