Ferrari's First Electric Sports Car: Elettrica Revealed as Shares Drop on Conservative 2030 Outlook

Italy:

Ferrari is set to commence its measured transition to electric vehicles in 2026, unveiling its inaugural battery-powered four-seat coupe, though shares plunged Thursday as long-term profit projections disappointed investors.

The luxury automaker's stock dropped by as much as 16 percent on the Milan exchange after revealing profit and revenue forecasts for 2030 that fell below market expectations.

During a presentation at its Maranello headquarters, the iconic brand with the prancing horse emblem showcased details of its first electric sports car, "Elettrica," scheduled for release next year, while simultaneously announcing a scaled-back electrification strategy.

The four-seat Elettrica will deliver over 1,000 horsepower with a range capacity of 530 kilometres (329 miles).

Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna emphasized to investors that with fewer than 14,000 cars sold annually, the company "must manage scarcity" to maintain its exclusive market position.

Vigna noted that with premium pricing, diverse model offerings, and an ideal waiting period of 20 to 24 months, "we have to be sure that there aren't too many cars on the road."

While Ferrari modestly increased its 2025 guidance for revenue, margins, and adjusted earnings per share, the market reacted negatively to its longer-term outlook.

The company projected annual revenue growth of five percent, reaching €9.0 billion by 2030, with an adjusted operating profit of €2.75 billion.

RBC Capital Markets analyst Tom Narayan observed that these forecasts fell short of analysts' expectations, while investors "are likely to interpret a downshift in EBIT growth (earnings before interest and taxes) from prior history".

Although no price was disclosed for the Elettrica, analysts suggest Ferrari will need to strategically position it in relation to the nearly €500,000 ($580,500) base price of its Purosangue SUV.

Ferrari currently sells approximately half of its vehicles as hybrids but has yet to fully embrace electric technology, entering the market several years behind competitors like Porsche, Lamborghini, Lotus, and Rimac.

Reflecting the broader automotive industry's deceleration toward electrification, Ferrari has revised its electric transition plans downward. Electric models will constitute only 20 percent of Ferrari's lineup by 2030, halved from the previously announced 40 percent, with combustion engines remaining predominant.

On Wednesday evening, Ferrari's management revealed the Elettrica's architecture, featuring an exceptionally low driving position in a recycled aluminum chassis equipped with powerful motors on each wheel.

The Elettrica promises impressive performance, accelerating from zero to 100 kilometres per hour in 2.5 seconds with a top speed of 310 km/h.

Traditional Ferrari shift paddles on the steering wheel will allow drivers to switch between smooth or sporty driving modes, adjusting motor power and suspension dynamics.

As a tribute to traditional gasoline engines, the Elettrica offers simulated downshifting, while the characteristic engine sound is replaced by amplified electric motor acoustics designed to communicate road feedback to the driver, according to Ferrari's product director Gianmaria Fulgenzi.

"It's like choosing between a sailboat and a motorboat: both are exciting but in different ways," Fulgenzi explained.

The brand has invested heavily in developing most technical innovations in-house, particularly the integrated battery system – one of the few components it won't manufacture itself – because "keeping that expert knowledge in-house means we can stay competitive."

Equipped with a substantial 122 kWh battery, the Elettrica weighs in at 2.3 tonnes, making it the heaviest Ferrari ever produced.