Ferrari considering producing combustion engines beyond the EU's 2035 ban

During the Financial Times Future of the Car Conference in London, Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna indicated that the marque may continue to sell combustion cars beyond the 2035 ban on new combustion-engined car sales in the European Union (EU). This is in line with the EU's plan to allow e-fuel-powered cars to remain on sale after 2035. The allowance for some cars running exclusively on e-fuels to continue selling beyond the regional ban raises the possibility of low-volume marques such as Ferrari continuing to build and sell non-electrified cars.

Vigna stated that Ferrari is still on track to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 and will launch its first electric car in 2025, as previously announced. However, the CEO believes that combustion engines still have a lot to offer. He explained that the e-fuels narrative is playing out at a faster pace than anticipated, which opens up new possibilities for Ferrari in terms of its future product and technology roadmap.

The CEO sees the compatibility of e-fuel and combustion engines as a boon for the company. Vigna stated that running a thermal (combustion) car with neutral fuel is possible since the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is combined with other substances. Therefore, he believes that the two technologies are very much compatible and reinforce the company's strategy.

Ferrari hasn't said much regarding the design, technical specifications of its first electric car. Vigna, however, stated that all component supply lines have been drawn up, and the car is nearly ready to make its debut. He suggested that 2025 is approaching quickly.

Although Ferrari's future line-up has not been disclosed, Vigna's latest comments indicate that combustion engines could still play a core role in the company. He reiterated that the EU's approval of the e-fuel exemption was beneficial to Ferrari and the world since it gives life to a technology that still has a long way to go in terms of efficiency and emissions. He emphasized that Ferrari will stick to its current strategy of investing in ICE, hybrid, and EVs.

In conclusion, Vigna stopped short of confirming whether the company would invest in entirely new engines. Currently, Ferrari has a 3.0-litre V6, a 3.9-litre V8, and a 6.5-litre V12 in its portfolio, with the first two already utilized in the hybridized 296 GTB and SF90 Stradale supercars. It is essential to note that the EU's e-fuels exemption proposal requires that any combustion cars for sale past 2035 must run exclusively on e-fuels, meaning any existing engines would require extensive modification to comply with the requirements.