Former Ferrari chairman scorns marque’s first electric car — reportedly wants to “peel off the badge”

What happened

It has been reported that a former chairman of Ferrari scowled at the company’s first electric model and said he wanted to “peel off the badge.” The comment, carried by Chinese outlet ifeng, captures a growing cultural clash inside the automotive world: heritage-brand purists versus the industry’s electrification push. Details on the former chairman’s identity and the context of the remark were not provided in the report.

Why it matters

Ferrari, the storied Italian sports-car maker, is moving toward electric powertrains as regulators and markets demand lower emissions and as rivals such as Tesla and Chinese manufacturers gain ground. Will a battery-powered model wear the same cachet as a V12? Brand guardians worry about dilution of identity. Investors and customers, meanwhile, are watching whether performance and exclusivity can be preserved when the combustion engine is no longer the heart of the product.

Broader context

The row illustrates wider tensions across the global auto sector as companies navigate strict emissions rules in Europe and the U.S., supply-chain realignments, and competition from fast-moving Chinese EV firms such as BYD (比亚迪). It has been reported that internal disputes over product direction are common at heritage marques facing existential technical shifts. Whether a caustic remark from a former executive will sway Ferrari’s strategy is unclear — but the dispute highlights the reputational stakes of a once-in-a-century transition for luxury carmakers.