Lamborghini appoints new CTO... he just spent 2 years creating an electric brand for China at Audi

It's another game of musical chairs within the Volkswagen Group... but this one says a lot about the direction the company is taking. Lamborghini. The Italian brand has just announced the arrival of Fermín Soneira as head of research and development, an atypical profile who has come straight from... China, where he piloted a major electric project for Audi.

Unexpected appointment to head Lamborghini R&D

From July 1, Fermín Soneira will take charge of Lamborghini's entire technical strategy, including both R&D and the motorsport department. A key role at a pivotal time for the brand, which is undergoing a profound transformation.

But what's most striking is his recent track record. Since March 2024, he has been CEO of the cooperation project between Audi and SAIC in China, with a very concrete mission: to create a new electric brand dedicated to the Chinese market. In just two years, he oversaw the launch of a complete range of electric vehicles, including the E5 Sportback sedan and the E7X SUV, based on an entirely new technological platform.

A brief but intense stint in the world's most competitive automotive market. And above all, a total immersion in the world of electric vehicles, software and connected technologies, areas in which Lamborghini must now accelerate.

Symbolic tansition with Audi

Fermín Soneira's arrival is part of a wider movement between Lamborghini and Audi, two closely linked brands within the Volkswagen Group. For at the same time, his predecessor, Rouven Mohr (remembered for his drift video in Temerario), goes in the opposite direction.

Having headed Lamborghini's technical strategy since 2022, Mohr was appointed Chief Technical Officer of AUDI AG at the beginning of 2026. A return to his roots for this experienced engineer, who had already held several key positions at Audi before his move to Sant'Agata Bolognese.

At Lamborghini, he has left a significant mark. It was he who piloted the complete hybridization of the range, with emblematic models such as the Revuelto, l’Urus SE or the Temerario. He also supervised the racing programs, including the SC63 in endurance racing.

Lamborghini at a technological turning point?

This change in technical direction is not insignificant. Lamborghini is entering a new phase in its history, where electrification, software and the digital experience will become as important as mechanical performance.

The choice of Soneira is revealing: his expertise lies not only in traditional engineering, but also in product strategy, global marketing and above all... electrics. At Audi, he headed up the e-tron model lines, covering vehicles such as the Q4, Q6, Q8 e-tron and the e-tron GT.

More recently, his experience in China has enabled him to work on 800V and 900V architectures, ultra-fast recharging systems, artificial intelligence-based interfaces and platforms designed for connected vehicles. These are all technological building blocks that could influence future Lamborghini models.

In his first statement, Fermín Soneira refers to it as “an honor” to join such an iconic brand as Lamborghini, while clearly stating his ambition: “to further elevate technological excellence and the driving experience”.

Behind these words lies a reality: Lamborghini must strike a delicate balance between tradition and innovation. Preserving its emotional DNA while integrating new, increasingly complex technologies. The arrival of a profile like Soneira, capable of navigating between performance, electrification and software, shows that the brand has no intention of remaining a spectator in the face of upheavals in the sector. It now remains to be seen how this vision will be concretely translated into future models.