Chinese carmakers are building some incredibly powerful machines, but Lamborghini boss Stephan Winkelmann is not particularly worried about them yet.
Speaking to Auto Express, Winkelmann said Lamborghini does not currently see Chinese supercars as a major threat, largely because many of the most attention-grabbing newcomers are electric. Lamborghini, meanwhile, is sticking with high-performance hybrids for the foreseeable future.
The question came up around cars such as the Denza Z, a 1,583bhp electric model shown at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed. It can reportedly hit 62mph in less than two seconds, but Winkelmann believes huge performance figures alone are not enough to challenge Lamborghini. For him, the difference still comes down to things such as sound and the emotion of driving the car.
That thinking also matches Lamborghini’s recent change of direction. The company had planned to make its upcoming fourth model line fully electric, but earlier this year switched that project to a plug-in hybrid after pointing to limited demand for electric supercars.
Lamborghini’s current line-up is already fully hybridised, with the Revuelto, Temerario and Urus SE combining combustion engines with electric assistance. The company describes that strategy as a way to cut emissions without sacrificing the performance expected from its cars.
Winkelmann did admit that Chinese manufacturers have caught his attention in one area, particularly software. He also left the door open to the competition becoming more serious in the future, telling Auto Express to “never say never.”
A fully electric Lamborghini is not completely off the table either, but the company’s first EV is now expected sometime after 2030.
Right now, Lamborghini is betting that buyers still want more than huge performance figures. As long as combustion engines can provide the sound and character its customers expect, Winkelmann sees little reason to chase China’s electric supercars.