Ferrari's Elettrica EV, mocked for its looks, is selling far better than expected

Ferrari's first-ever production electric car, the Elettrica, has posted surprisingly strong sales figures despite a wave of criticism following its unveiling. According to the British newspaper Financial Times, the company had planned to sell up to 500 units this year — but that target was already surpassed in July, just two months after the model's debut.

Ferrari itself has not disclosed exact sales targets. The car's design was created by former Apple chief designer Jony Ive, but its appearance sparked a fierce backlash on social media after the presentation, with critics comparing the new model to far cheaper mass-market cars.

Former Ferrari chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo even said the car shouldn't carry the brand's traditional prancing horse emblem. Following the model's reveal in May, Ferrari's shares dropped by more than eight percent in a single day.

Nevertheless, the company itself is positioning the Elettrica as a technological showcase designed to attract a new generation of wealthy customers. The main focus is on China and tech hubs such as Silicon Valley in the US, where electric cars have long become the norm among affluent buyers.

According to people close to the company, demand for the new model has been especially strong in China. Entrepreneurs from the US tech sector have also responded positively to the electric car.

At the same time, Ferrari doesn't want to alienate its traditional clientele, who tend to favor petrol engines. Dealers have therefore been instructed not to pressure longtime collectors of the brand into switching to electric power.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz