Stephan Winkelmann
CEO Lamborghini S.p.A.
FAVORITES
Suit I have a tailor in Italy (Torino) who does my suits; they’re not tied to any brand.
Timepiece Currently, it’s the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms
Car (not Lamborghini) Audi S8
Lamborghini Matte Black Gallardo LP 560-4
Travel Destination The beaches in Italy, especially islands like Sardinia
A German-born businessman raised in Italy, Stephan Winkelmann credits his childhood as lending to his Italian tastes. Highly independent, he is not dedicated to a single brand or style. An avid reader, he enjoys collecting books to read, with several hundred in his library. Winkelmann tends to favor books about politics and world history, and cites Ernst von Salomon, Ernst Jünger, and André Malraux among his favorites. On the road, he’s hard-pressed to name a favorite spot as he enjoys experiencing new places.
Winkelmann is a political science graduate who later served as a paratrooper in the German Army. Not long after leaving the military, he joined Mercedes-Benz, the beginning of a long and sucessful career in the automotive industry. In 1994, he became area sales manager for the Alfa Romeo brand within Fiat Auto-Germany. He would later become Fiat’s head of marketing for their southern region.
During his tenure, he worked at Fiat Auto S.p.A. in Turin in marketing and sales management for Alfa Romeo, responsible for the launch of the Alfa 156. He went on to become the area manager for several markets in Europe. After working as a board member for sales at Fiat Auto Austria, Winkelmann was appointed chairman of the board at Fiat Auto Austria and Fiat Auto Switzerland.
In 2004, after taking several weeks to mull over the offer, he accepted the position of Chairman of the Board of Fiat Automobil AG in Germany. On January 1, 2005, Stephan Winkelmann was appointed President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. in Sant’Agata Bolognese (Italy).
What sets Lamborghini apart from its competition?
Lamborghini is unlike any other vehicle in the super sports car segment. The design of each of our cars is completely unique to its brand; each one extreme, uncompromising, and unmistakably Italian. Each model is conceptualized by our design team at the Lamborghini factory in Sant’Agata, Bolognese. The way our cars feel on the road is also very specific to the brand due to the performance capabilities and four-wheel drive system.
What are you doing to continue growing the brand and the company? With that in mind, how are you navigating the economy both domestically (US) and internationally?
Lamborghini is investing in new technologies as well as research and development. We recently formed a partnership with the University of Washington and The Boeing Company to streamline the development of carbon fiber materials through research and testing learned from their experience in the aviation industry. We have high hopes this research will revolutionize the materials we use to construct our cars to increase the power-to-weight ratio and reduce vehicle emissions.
We continue to build the brand by introducing the most exciting super sports car offering to date. In 2009, Lamborghini introduced four new limited edition models: Lamborghini Reventón Roadster, Murciélago LP 650-4 Roadster, Murciélago LP 670-4 SV (the most powerful Lamborghini to date), and the Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni – the first rear-wheel drive Lamborghini in more than a decade.
The key to navigating our business through the economic crisis is to continue building a strong worldwide dealer network with an exclusive product offering to maintain a high demand.
What should we expect from both Lamborghini and the luxury car market in 2010?
Lamborghini is not immune to the economic crisis and expect this year will continue to bring challenges. We do not anticipate the luxury market to begin recovery until at least 2011, although emerging economies have seen signs of growth. We will remain optimistic and committed to our long-term strategy of announcing at least one new model
per year.
How do you define success?
To me, success is defined by a life well lived. Allowing yourself to stay very busy but also have the right balance to enjoy your spare time to me is successful and fulfilling.
