Ferrari is arguably the most famous maker of luxury sports cars globally because of its extensive track record in producing cars that enthusiasts want to operate—rather than simply be passengers in. At the recent Financial TimesFuture of the Car Summit, the CEO of Ferrari, Benedetto Vigna, was emphatic about the company’s stance on autonomous vehicles. “In the realm of software, there are four categories: performance, comfort, infotainment, and autonomous,” Vigna explained. “As for the last category, it’s not on our radar.”
This is not the first instance where Ferrari has rejected autonomous vehicles. Previous executives have also reiterated similar sentiments to the media. While the automaker is venturing into the development of electric cars, it asserts that it possesses internal expertise to make it a reality. Regarding AVs, it appears that the company not only lacks interest in pursuing the concept as a matter of principle but also lacks the necessary resources to do so independently.
Ferrari
Business Insider reports that Vigna emphasized the “essence of the car” during the conversation. Indeed, a Ferrari without a driver would lose much of its essence. Ferrari retains autonomy after choosing not to participate in the FCA and PSA merger that formed Stellantis. Consequently, the company is not under pressure from higher-ups to pursue AVs and has access to other firms within its portfolio to easily exchange advanced technical know-how.
Many other luxury car manufacturers operate under larger automotive groups. Primarily, the Volkswagen group—a parent to Porsche, Lamborghini, and the newly amalgamated Bugatti-Rimac—holds this distinction. These companies have the capacity to develop AVs or leverage technology from their parent company to do so. On the other hand, manufacturers like McLaren—facing financial challenges—and Koenigsegg—engaged in low-volume production with a primary focus on vehicle engineering—are unlikely to independently venture into self-driving cars territory. While they may develop driver assistance systems internally or under license from external entities, full-fledged autonomous driving seems improbable, to say the least.
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