Ferrari CEO compliments Tesla for shaking up the automotive industry

Since becoming Ferrari’s CEO 17 months ago, CEO Benedetto Vigna has not been in a lot of interviews. But in a recent conversation, Vigna credited a surprising player in the auto sector for moving the entire industry forward — Tesla. 

 

Ferrari and Tesla are very different companies. Ferrari is focused on becoming the world’s best luxury performance car maker while Tesla is focused on hitting 20 million cars per year by the end of the decade. Yet despite this, as well as other notable differences, Vigna noted that the Elon Musk-led company deserves some commendation. 

 

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While speaking at Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters with Bloomberg News, Vigna stated that Tesla accelerated change in the auto industry. He also shared what he learned from the young carmaker. 

 

“The big contribution that Tesla has made to the automotive industry? It was a wake-up call. Things used to happen too slowly. Tesla shook up the industry and accelerated processes and decisions. They were faster and more agile,” the Ferrari CEO said. 

 

When asked what he considers Tesla’s vehicles, Vigna noted that the company’s electric cars are functional vehicles. “It’s meant to go from one point to another,” Vigna said. 

 

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Ferrari is on track to unveil its first all-electric car in 2025, with deliveries commencing the following year. With this in mind, Vigna also proved very optimistic about the company’s upcoming electric cars.

 

“Electrification is a new way to provide our customers a unique driving experience, and I’ve no doubt that our electric powertrains will give clients the same thrills of combustion engines. The point is how to extract the best emotion from the use of this technology, giving something unique to the clients,” Vigna said. 

 

Overall, the Ferrari CEO noted that while he does not see a threat to Ferrari as a company, he does see a threat for the luxury industry overall.

 

“There is a threat for the luxury industry overall, which is how will new generations react to luxury goods? That’s why I’m putting a lot of attention on sustainability, a true sustainability action plan. When I say that we want to be carbon neutral by the end of 2030, I mean that by end of 2030, I want to sharply cut emissions,” Vigna said. 

 

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