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Winkelmann to head Lamborghini, as VW looks to offload the Italian brand – report

The current head of Bugatti is said to be moving to Lamborghini, as Volkswagen separates from the marque.


Stephan Winkelmann is set to reprise his role as CEO of Lamborghini, according to German automotive news outlet Automobilwoche.

Sources say his appointment will be approved overnight by Audi's management team, which oversees strategic decisions for Lamborghini.

The report indicates Mr Winkelmann will retain his role as CEO of Bugatti for the time being. Late last month it was announced the current boss at Lamborghini, Stefano Domenicali, was leaving the brand to become President and CEO of Formula One.

Mr Winkelmann left Lamborghini in 2016 after 11 years as CEO, taking the top job at Bugatti after a brief stint as the head of Audi Sport.

In September 2020, rumours suggested the Volkswagen Group was looking to sell Bugatti to Rimac, with Mr Winkelmann confirming production had halted in October due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Lamborghini was also mentioned as a possible sale at the time.

Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Diess this week told news outlet Reuters the car giant was working to legally separate from Lamborghini and Italian motorcycle manufacturer Ducati.

Above: Stephan Winkelmann speaking to CarAdvice in 2017.

Volkswagen Group currently owns Bugatti, Lamborghini, Ducati, Audi, and Bentley, as well as Porsche, Skoda, and Seat.

"We are working on our Italian legal structure," Mr Diess said, suggesting the days may be numbered for brands with identities tied to high-powered combustion powertrains, such as Lamborghini.

"Are those really valuable in the new world? We don’t know yet."

Volkswagen Group is pushing forward with an electric future, with Mr Diess confirming Volkswagen is investing billions of dollars to convert two of its German factories to manufacture electric vehicles.

Earlier this month, Bentley announced it had committed to ending its use of traditional combustion engines within a decade, moving to an all-electric model range by 2030.

While Mr Winkelmann has yet to announce his departure from Bugatti, his return to Lamborghini could indicate the sale of Bugatti to Rimac may be imminent.


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Ben Zachariah

Ben Zachariah is an experienced writer and motoring journalist from Melbourne, having worked in the automotive industry for more than two decades. Ben began writing professionally more than 15 years ago and was previously an interstate truck driver. He completed his MBA in Finance in early 2021 and is considered an expert on classic car investment.

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