Ferrari vs Lamborghini: Founders, CEOs and History
Ferrari was founded in 1947 by Enzo Ferrari and is led by Benedetto Vigna. Lamborghini was founded in 1963 by Ferruccio Lamborghini and is led by Stephan Winkelmann.
Company facts
Ferrari
- Founded
- 1947
- Headquarters
- Maranello, Italy
- Current CEO
- Benedetto Vigna
Lamborghini
- Founded
- 1963
- Headquarters
- Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy
- Current CEO
- Stephan Winkelmann
Founders
Ferrari
Enzo Ferrari
Enzo Ferrari, famously known as 'Il Commendatore', was a complex, notoriously abrasive, and effective figure. He didn't care about selling road cars; his only passion was winning races.
Lamborghini
Ferruccio Lamborghini
Ferruccio Lamborghini (1916-1993) was born in Renazzo, near Ferrara, to a farming family. He served as a mechanic with the Italian air force in World War II, then built Lamborghini Trattori into a major tractor maker using surplus military equipment.
CEOs and their tenures
Ferrari
- Sergio Marchionne2014–2018
Former Chairman and CEO
Marchionne transformed Ferrari from a specialized division within a mass-market automaker into one of the most valuable, capitalized luxury brands in the world.
Source - John Elkann2018–present
Executive Chairman
Represents Ferrari's largest shareholder, Exor, on the board and oversees long-term strategy.
Source - Benedetto Vigna2021–present
Chief Executive Officer
Vigna's leadership marks a profound shift for Ferrari, emphasizing digital innovation and sustainable performance over pure internal combustion heritage.
Source
Lamborghini
- Franz-Josef Paefgen1999–2001
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. from 1999 to 2001.
Source - Giuseppe Greco2001–2005
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. from 2001 to 2005.
Source - Stefano Domenicali2016–2020
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. from 2016 to 2020.
Source - Stephan Winkelmann2020–present
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Winkelmann has led Lamborghini through the Direzione Cor Tauri hybrid transition, record deliveries of 10,747 cars in 2025, and the 2026 decision to turn the Lanzador into a plug-in hybrid. During his first tenure (2005-2016) sales more than doubled.
Source
Timeline: Ferrari and Lamborghini side by side
1947Ferrari
Company Founded
Enzo Ferrari founded the company.
1963Lamborghini
Automobili Lamborghini Founded
Ferruccio Lamborghini establishes the sports car company in Sant'Agata Bolognese, determined to out-build Ferrari after a personal insult from Enzo Ferrari.
1966Lamborghini
Miura Defines the Supercar
The Miura establishes the mid-engine supercar formula and Lamborghini's design mythology.
1969Ferrari
Fiat Acquisition
Fiat acquired a 50% stake.
1988Ferrari
Death of Enzo
Founder Enzo Ferrari passed away.
1998Lamborghini
Audi Acquisition
Audi (Volkswagen Group) acquires Lamborghini from Indonesian ownership group V'Power and Megatech for about $110 million, giving the brand engineering, quality, and capital support.
2002Ferrari
Enzo Ferrari launched
Launched the Enzo model.
2005Lamborghini
Stephan Winkelmann's First Tenure as CEO Begins
Winkelmann becomes CEO for a 11-year run during which sales more than double and revenue more than triples.
2015Ferrari
Initial Public Offering
Ferrari completed its IPO on the New York Stock Exchange.
2018Lamborghini
Urus Launch
The Urus turns Lamborghini into a higher-volume ultra-luxury performance brand without fully abandoning supercar scarcity.
2020Lamborghini
Winkelmann Returns as Chairman and CEO
Stephan Winkelmann returns to Lamborghini as Chairman and CEO on December 1, 2020, after leading Audi Sport and Bugatti.
2025Lamborghini
Record 2025 Results
Lamborghini reports ~$3.62 billion (EUR3.20 billion) in turnover, ~$868 million (EUR768 million) in operating income, and 10,747 deliveries.
2026Ferrari
Luce unveiled
First fully electric Ferrari unveiled at about €550,000.
2026Lamborghini
Record H1 Revenue, Lower Profit
H1 2026 revenue rises 7.4% to ~$1.97 billion (EUR 1.74 billion); operating profit falls to ~$446 million (EUR 395 million) as tariffs and currency weigh.
Acquisitions
Lamborghini
- Ducati Motor Holding2012$747M
- Italdesign Giugiaro (90.1% stake)2010Undisclosed
- Lamborghini (by Audi AG / Volkswagen Group)1998$110M
- Chrysler Corporation1987Undisclosed
- Georges-Henri Rossetti (51% stake)1972Undisclosed
Questions about Ferrari vs Lamborghini
Who is the CEO of Ferrari N.V. and Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.?
Ferrari N.V. is led by Benedetto Vigna and Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. is led by Stephan Winkelmann. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Ferrari N.V. founded vs Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.?
Ferrari N.V. was founded in 1947 — 16 years before Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., which was founded in 1963. Ferrari N.V.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A..
Where are Ferrari N.V. and Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. headquartered?
Both Ferrari N.V. and Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. are headquartered in Italy, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded Ferrari N.V. and Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.?
Ferrari N.V. was founded by Enzo Ferrari. Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. was founded by Ferruccio Lamborghini.
Which company has a longer operating history — Ferrari N.V. or Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.?
Ferrari N.V. has been operating for approximately 79 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. has been in operation for around 63 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Ferrari vs Lamborghini overview