Lamborghini Shifts Gears Away from Electric

Lamborghini is putting the brakes on its electric ambitions—again.

The Italian supercar brand has now indefinitely delayed the launch of its fully electric Urus SUV, citing growing uncertainty around EU combustion engine regulations.

Counting on Plug-In Hybrid

Instead of going all-electric, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann confirmed that the next-generation Urus, expected in 2029, will remain a plug-in hybrid.

That means a continued mix of gasoline and electric power, something he says customers will welcome.

“They’ll be Very Happy”

In an interview with Autocar, Winkelmann pointed directly to regulatory confusion in Brussels as the reason behind the decision.

The EU’s proposed ban on combustion engines still hasn’t been fully approved or finalized, and automakers are still unsure about how, when, or even if, the rules will come into force.

“The customers will be very happy,” Winkelmann said, emphasizing that Lamborghini fans still want the performance and sound of traditional engines, even as hybrids offer a step toward lower emissions.

What’s Under the Hood

The current Urus SE is already a powerful hybrid.

It combines a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine with an electric motor to produce a hefty 789 horsepower and 950 Nm of torque.

While the fully electric Urus is now off the table until at least 2035, Lamborghini hasn’t disclosed much about the powertrain for the 2029 version.

But the decision to stick with plug-in technology signals that the combustion engine still has plenty of life left.

Not the Only Delay

Lamborghini had already announced delays to its first all-electric vehicle, the Lanzador, originally scheduled to debut in 2028.

That model is now pushed to 2029 or later—with no guarantee that date will hold either.

Winkelmann hasn’t ruled out further timeline shifts, saying that the brand is closely watching political and market developments before locking in major EV plans.

E-Fuels Back in Play

Lamborghini, like many other high-end manufacturers, is also placing bets on synthetic fuels (e-fuels) as a way to keep internal combustion engines alive without breaching future emissions regulations.

The company has already hinted that e-fuels could be the “salvation” for traditional engines.

Rivals Are Also Tapping the Brakes

Lamborghini isn’t alone.

Across the auto industry, many manufacturers are slowing down their electric rollouts or pivoting back to combustion models due to weak demand, infrastructure gaps, and shifting regulations.

Audi, a fellow Volkswagen Group brand, recently suggested it’s no longer ruling out gasoline or diesel engines.

Volvo admitted that Australia isn’t ready to go fully electric by 2026, and BMW has made it clear it has no plans to abandon combustion entirely.