Stephan Winkelmann will be the new President and CEO
of Automobili Lamborghini as of December 1st 2020. He succeeds Stefano Domenicali, who will
become the CEO of Formula 1 as of 2021. Winkelmann will also remain the
president of Bugatti.
Stephan Winkelmann was the President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini between
2005 and 2006, a period when he turned Lamborghini into a global leader in the
production of super sports cars. He had already held various prominent
positions within Gruppo Fiat.
The first Lamborghini models introduced under Winkelmann’s presidency were
based on Gallardo, followed by the launch of Huracán (model V10) and Aventador
(model V12) including the limited editions and one-offs and the various record
sales. 2015 saw the announcement of a third model, the Urus Super SUV produced
in Sant’Agata Blognese, which marked the beginning of a new era for the
company.
In March 2016, Winkelmann became the CEO of Quattro GmbH (Now Audi Sport GmbH)
before becoming the President of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. in early 2018.
“Stephan Winkelmann marked the history of
Lamborghini,” declared Markus
Duesmann, Chairman of the Management Board at AUDI AG. “He represents the Lamborghini brand like few
others and he is the right person to lead it to a successful future. On behalf of the entire Management Board at
AUDI AG, I would like to thank Stefano Domenicali for his extraordinary work
and commitment towards Lamborghini. Over the past four years, he directed and
shaped the transformation of the brand. We wish him the very best and every
success in his new position as CEO of Formula 1.”
Stephan Winkelmann commented: “It is a great honour and a pleasure for me
to head these two unique companies with their extraordinary cars. I cannot wait
to tackle this new challenge. If Bugatti is synonymous with the best, most
powerful, elegant and luxurious hypercars in the world, then Lamborghini is the
iconic expression of the most exclusive super sports cars thanks to its
exceptional designs and innovation levels. The creative flair of both companies
has diminished in any way - the world will definitely be surprised.”
Since his arrival in 2016, Stefano Domenicali continued Lamborghini’s
transformation process with the introduction of the Urus Super SUV in 2018 and
a significant growth of the brand on a global level. During the last four years
under his management, the production facility in Sant’Agata Bolognese doubled
in size - over 700 employees were hired and brand awareness reached
unprecedented levels. The growth in global sales was even more significant with
8,205 units delivered to customers in 2019, doubling the volumes of the period
before the introduction of the Urus, and record sales in all of the three main
market areas were achieved: the Americas, EMEA and Pacific Asia, with a turnover
of €1.81 billion in 2019.
Stefano Domenicali commented: “I will
face a new professional challenge with the awareness of having come
across an extraordinary organization and exceptional colleagues - I am deeply
attached to the men and women of the Lamborghini family. Together, we reached
incredible goals, beating one record after another. I leave the company during
a positive period, knowing full well that the sturdy long-term strategy
implemented will guarantee a bright lasting future for the brand. I would like
to thank Audi and the Volkswagen Group for their continuous support throughout
the years. The experience in Automobili Lamborghini has proved exceptional for
me, from both a personal and professional point of view. It has been a real
privilege and I wish Stephan Winklemann great success leading this
extraordinary company.”
