Italy’s automotive industry is undergoing a revolution in electric autonomous vehicles. Going from heavyweight luxury sports car builder to a producer of high-end technical vehicles that exploit the virtues of electric and autonomous driving. It is not just reshaping the country’s iconic car brands, but also the door to fresh new opportunities for tech startups and established companies alike.
Italian automotive excellence, Ferrari, has announced it will launch its first fully electric car by the end of 2025. It is a big departure from the brand’s commitment to creating motors that deliver high performance petrol engines. As is typical in the industry today, the decision by the company to become an electric vehicle player is a reflection of the industry move towards greater sustainability and the increasing desire for zero emission vehicles.
Along with Ferrari, other Italian automakers are speeding up their electric vehicle programmes. Lamborghini is building hybrid supercar powertrains, while Maserati has pledged to bring electric versions of all its cars by 2025. And there is huge investment in research and development as well as battery and electric drivetrain partner partnerships with tech companies.
Italys automotive supply chain is also in transition to join the electric vehicle world. Electric vehicle production is driving traditional component manufacturers to adapt their products and processes. As a result, it is producing new job opportunities in battery engineering, power electronics, and software development.
Italian automotive companies are also making important strides in the autonomous driving technology, in addition to electrification. An Italian consortium of universities, research institutes and automotive companies has developed a project for testing autonomous vehicles on public roads. The purpose of this initiative is to put Italy into the lead in self-driving car development and deal with the country’s special conditions of varying road conditions and the complexity of urban situations.
International tech giants are also heading to Italy in the push towards autonomous vehicles. Several of the major technology companies have set up research centres in the country, working on the development of AI algorithms for self driving and smart mobility. A new IT ecosystem of innovation is being breathed into the Italian automotive sector by these tech firms collaborating with traditional automakers.
In this technological transition, however, it’s the Italian government that’s playing such an important role. More recently legislated incentives have been introduced for the purchasing of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. Moreover, the government has given funds to help carry out research and development in autonomous driving technologies since the country could have tremendous economic benefits if it were to become the leader in this field.
But electric and autonomous vehicles aren’t without their challenges. It involves a lot of heavy investment in new production facilities and retooling personnel. There are also worries about the negative feedback on employment in traditional automotive manufacturing, in parts of the world with strong combustion engine production legacies.
To remedy these problems, Italian automotive companies are cooperating with universities and vocational training establishments to develop programmes befitting future skills of the workers in the mobility business. What these initiatives envision is to have Italy’s automotive workforce constitute of workers that remain competitive in the constantly changing industry landscape.
As Italian cities consider the future of the urban planning and transportation strategies as it moves toward electric and autonomous vehicles, they also are making changes. A few municipalities are piloting smart mobility projects, using autonomous shuttles and electric car share services to better integrate into their public transportation network. Not only are they reducing emissions, but they’re also giving us data to help us develop the future mobility solutions we’ll revere.
With typical Italian flair, Italy’s automotive industry is, however, still prioritising design and performance as it embraces these new technologies. The great challenge for manufacturers is being able to integrate electric powertrains and autonomous flagships while preserving the distinctive character and the great driving experience that Italian vehicles, in particular, are expected for.
A broader picture of innovation in the country’s industrial landscape is being painted with the transformation of Italy’s automotive sector. With smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0 solutions becoming increasingly important, Italy is investing in becoming a centre point for these technologies and traditional industries converging. Experts say the evolution is likely to have far reaching effects on the country’s economy and its role in the global automotive market.