Manufacturers of low volume and high exclusivity, such as Ferrari or Lamborghini, have more difficult than generalists to transition towards the electric and without emissions. It makes sense that they have an exception to the rule of no more cars with internal combustion engines starting in 2035.
As we well know, from 2035 on, cars with an internal combustion engine will not be able to be registered in the European Union. That includes hybrids. It is part of the package of measures by European politicians to limit the impact on climate change caused by man.
However, there is a thorny issue, and that is that we must not lose sight of the economy. In Europe we have some builders that find it more difficult to electrify for industrial reasons and also for identity. For low volume manufacturers there should be some exception, the position of the Government of Italy.
In an interview with Bloomberg TV, the Italian Minister of Ecological Transition, Roberto Cingolani, confirmed that an exception to this rule is being negotiated for low-volume manufacturers that are not exactly a threat to the planet. We can mention Ferrari or Lamborghini, but obviously there are more, and not only in Italy.
Lamborghini Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae
The industrial reason is that when we talk about very low volume manufacturersAs there are no powerful economies of scale, prices have to be high, so that is more than offset by exclusivity, performance, finishes, more importance of labor than robots, etc. And they are cars that can last … whatever you want.
When it comes to transitioning to electromobility, manufacturers that do not reach 10,000 units per year (and that are at their peak of commercial results) really have a very small impact on all this, so it makes a minimum of sense to open the hand. They are not limited to manufacturing means of transport.
In comparative terms, a supercar or a luxury car is more polluting (in any sense) than a utility vehicle, as long as we talk about equal mileage. If we take into account the total emissions, then the thing is not so clear, any utility can travel 10 times more distance than a Ferrari, and in much less time. Therefore, it can pollute considerably more.
On the other hand, there is the question of identity. Right now the difference at the level of motorization between such a high-end car and one of the heap is astronomical. If all manufacturers produce electric cars the thing is quite equal, and to differentiate itself you have to put in more kilowatts and more brutal accelerations.
However, in an age when you can no longer afford gasoline or diesel, it will still make sense to buy a car with a V8 or V12 engine because there is no electric motor to match that, no matter how much synthetic sound comes out of the speakers. It is simply not something that can be matched to a great extent, like vegan burgers compared to the usual ones.
And pulling the same simile, surely it is very good for the planet that the majority of the population is vegetarian, vegan or whatever we want to call it, but it really would not be a drama if there was a carnivorous minority. And that’s what is negotiated, how much can be opened the hand with very special manufacturers and that they have their industrial contribution beyond taxes.
There will be German manufacturers and some other French that see this interesting, since the United Kingdom already goes to its ball in terms of approvals and regulations. But all this does not remove the obvious, even the most exclusive manufacturers have to evolve, and for that there are several open fronts.
Besides having electrification, obviously, there are also open roads towards the synthetic fuel production with less environmental impact, being able to achieve close substitutes for gasoline without being noticed. Like when a carnivore does not find out that he has eaten a soy burger with many extra ingredients hiding its origin. There may not be for everyone, but for a few, yes.
Most of the norms can contemplate exceptions, at least in what we humans make the norm. Maybe their hands are open for a few more years and in 2050 they can only sell electricity. If you give them 15 more years, getting it will be easier, and we are left with the question of how many people will miss the sound of a good engine in 30 years, at least in new cars.