Lamborghini India shifts to hybrid gear

Lamborghini India plans to showcase two hybrid models - the Revuelto and Sterrato - later this year.

The Italian luxury sports car brand launched its last pure internal combustion model, the Urus S, in India on Wednesday with prices starting at ₹4.18 crore ex-showroom, as it bids adieu to fossil fuel powered models globally.

"We will now begin preparations to launch the hybrid models and plan to showcase the Revuelto and Sterrato hybrid later this year," Sharad Agarwal, head of Lamborghini India, told ET. "The hybrids will be more performance-oriented and pricier than the ICE (internal combustion engine) variants," he said.

Lamborghini already has a waiting list stretching on to two years for the Revuelto, its first ever plug-in hybrid that made its global debut last month. The company has yet to reveal the price officially. It's expected to be priced at $600,000, as per global media reports.

Albeit on a low base, the India subsidiary has been the fastest growing market for Lamborghini for the last two years. It ended 2022 with a record 92 deliveries, of which 60% came from the Urus brand. The Urus, a luxury crossover SUV, which has been very popular among the first-time Lamborghini buyers, has created a segment for itself, Agarwal said. Eight out of every 10 buyers of Urus are first-timers and 10% of them also are buyers of other supercars from the brands, he added. India's super car market (those priced above ₹2 core) touched a record 509 cars in 2022, breaching the previous peak of 323 units in 2018 and 300 units in 2021. The numbers are expected to increase in 2023 as wealthy Indians splurge on the super expensive machine.

A consistent policy and improved road infrastructure has helped, Agarwal said, adding that the segment has been resilient to recession globally.