Of all the elite carmakers with an iconic lineage of making exclusive cars for niche buyers, Ferrari was the one that was still shying away from pure electric mobility until now. At the recently concluded Ferrari Capital Markets Day, the Italian sports car specialist finally confirmed its plans for electrification of its models in the following years. It was a game-changing event for a carmaker having some of the most sophisticated V8s and purist V12 engines in its lineup.
The move from Ferrari adapting the electrification route was bound to happen one day. It is because all carmakers, including its peers like Lamborghini, Aston Martin, and Maserati, have announced their electrification plans involving their first-ever pure electric vehicles for the near future. Many might think this gradual shift from pure V8s and V12s to pure battery electric vehicles might make the Ferraris of the future soulless. However, the Italian carmaker has some serious plans for accepting this inevitable future.
Announcements By Ferrari For Electrification Plans
Under its strategic plan for the next four years, Ferrari will launch 15 new products by 2026. Now, this is huge for a niche carmaker like Ferrari. One of these fifteen new models from Ferrari will be its first-ever all-electric model, which will break covers in 2025.
By the end of 2026, the entire lineup of Ferrari will consist of 40 percent internal combustion engine (ICE) models and 60 percent electrified models. The remaining 60 percent of electrified models will include the full-electric and some full-hybrid models. And that’s not all – by the end of 2030, the share of these models will change, with 20 percent ICE models, 40 percent hybrid models, and 40 percent full-electric models in the entire Ferrari lineup.
These announcements indicate one thing – At least by 2030, Ferrari is not giving up on pure ICE models wholly. However, at the same time, the focus on electrified models – full-hybrid and pure electric – will keep increasing. Like the current full-hybrid models like SF90 and 296 GTB, the new hybrid cars will also get technological inputs from Ferrari’s racing department.
Ferrari’s Plan Of Action For Electrification
Ferrari has already set up an all-new development facility in Maranello for producing the electric motors for the new all-electric models. While Ferrari makes the V8s and V12s employed in the current Ferrari models in-house, it will be outsourcing batteries and software from Europe and Asia for the new all-electric model.
However, outsourcing batteries will not be a permanent plan of action. Ferrari is holding talks with four companies simultaneously to develop higher-grade solid-state EV batteries for its future models. As a part of this development, Ferrari will be pumping in investments worth €4.4 billion by 2026
According to Ferrari, it is considering the option of assembling battery cells outsourced from different companies at its facility in Maranello. These battery packs will be handcrafted and designed to get accommodated within the chassis of future all-electric models. For this, Ferrari will be working on weight reduction and enhancing performance levels to create a driving experience similar to current Ferrari sports cars.
To reduce further investments, Ferrari will also outsource components and software for the operating system of the all-electric models. The operating systems are crucial to monitor the driving behavior and respond to over-the-air updates. However, Ferrari will focus more on bettering the driving dynamics and performance of all-electric models rather than investing in the self-development of such components and software.
Retaining The ‘Ferrari-ness’ In The All-electric Models
For Ferrari, retaining the performance and desirability of its ICE models in the new all-electric models will be a concerning challenge. It is clear that with the advent of all-electric models, buyers will have lesser options of models boasting the aural drama that Ferrari has always been known for in its high-revving sports cars.
However, according to the chairman of Ferrari, John Elkann, Ferrari will do all things possible to make the all-electric Ferraris stand out as true-blue Ferrari models. The all-electric Ferraris will need to have that distinctive appeal over other electric supercars like Pininfarina Battista and Rimac Nevera, which have already set tall standards in performance.
Other Announcements By Ferrari At Capital Markets Day
In addition to letting the world know about its opinions and game plan for electric mobility, Ferrari also announced a few things which will help shape the Italian carmaker’s fortunes in the coming months.
Ferrari has finally confirmed that it will be unveiling the much-awaited Purosangue – its first-ever SUV – in September 2022. For Purosangue, Ferrari has restricted the shipments to 20 percent of its total production volume throughout its lifecycle.
In addition, Ferrari will also be launching a range of Icona, supercar, and Special series models, which will be part of the 15-model lineup Ferrari has planned for the next four years. Ferrari hopes to achieve 5 percent of total volumes by Icona and supercar models and 10 percent by Special series models by 2026.