Lamborghini is owned by the Volkswagen Group, operating under Audi’s umbrella since 1998. It’s a long way from the company’s origins — founder Ferruccio Lamborghini started the brand in the 1960s specifically to build a better grand tourer than Ferrari, reportedly after a personal dispute with Enzo Ferrari himself.
Since Audi took over, Lamborghini has gone from a chronically unstable, frequently-changing-hands manufacturer to one of the most consistently profitable brands in the entire Volkswagen Group portfolio.
Quick Facts
| Company | Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. |
|---|---|
| Parent Company | Audi AG (part of Volkswagen Group) |
| Owner Since | 1998 |
| Founder | Ferruccio Lamborghini |
| Founded | 1963, Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy |
| CEO | Stephan Winkelmann |
Ownership History
| Year | Development |
|---|---|
| 1963 | Ferruccio Lamborghini founds the company after building his fortune in tractor manufacturing |
| 1972 | Ferruccio sells his remaining stake, beginning a turbulent multi-decade stretch of ownership changes |
| 1980 | Company enters bankruptcy amid the broader 1970s oil crisis and financial struggles |
| 1987 | Chrysler Corporation acquires Lamborghini |
| 1994 | Chrysler sells Lamborghini to Malaysian investment group Mycom Setdco and Indonesia’s V’Power Corporation |
| 1998 | Audi AG, part of the Volkswagen Group, acquires Lamborghini, finally providing long-term stability |
| 2026 | Lamborghini remains one of the most profitable per-unit brands in the Volkswagen Group, continuing its transition toward hybrid and electrified models |
Key Ownership Highlights
- Lamborghini changed owners at least five times before Audi’s 1998 acquisition finally gave the brand lasting stability.
- Under Volkswagen Group ownership, Lamborghini has become known for exceptionally high profit margins relative to its size, benefiting from shared engineering and platform resources across the group.
- The company’s founding myth — that Ferruccio started Lamborghini after Enzo Ferrari dismissed his complaints about clutch issues — remains one of the most famous origin stories in the auto industry, disputed in exact detail but broadly accepted as the inspiration.
Related Ownership Profiles
Lamborghini is part of a much larger automotive group — see who owns Volkswagen.
FAQ
Who owns Lamborghini?
Audi AG, part of the Volkswagen Group, has owned Lamborghini since 1998.
Is the Lamborghini family still involved?
No. Founder Ferruccio Lamborghini sold his stake in 1972 and the family has had no ownership role since.