Ferrari's CEO gives Tesla's Roadster launch a 10 out of 10: 'We have to keep dreaming'

Praise from a direct rival is rare in the car industry, which makes Tuesday's comments from Ferrari's chief executive stand out. Speaking at a conference organised by the Italian car magazine Quattroruote, Benedetto Vigna rated Tesla's new Roadster launch 10 out of 10, both for its technology and for the way it was presented.

Vigna joined the event in Milan remotely from India, according to Not a Tesla App. His remarks were first reported by Reuters.

What Vigna said

Vigna's message was less about the Roadster as a product and more about what the launch says about the industry. He said it shows that there is still a lot left to do in the car world, and that "we have to keep dreaming". He also thanked Tesla directly: as a European, he said, he appreciated being shown that "even in an old world, you can still innovate and dare".

Coming from the head of the world's best-known sports car brand, that is notable. Ferrari and the Roadster target a similar kind of buyer, and Ferrari is in the middle of its own move into electric cars.

The car he was talking about

Tesla unveiled the next-generation Roadster the week before, on October 15, at a SpaceX test site in McGregor, near Waco, Texas. In the demonstration, the car used cold-gas thrusters developed with SpaceX to briefly fly, flip in midair and land, and Tesla claimed 0 to 60 mph in under a second for the most extreme versions.

• Versions: a road-going Performance model, a track-focused Thrust model with thrusters, and an invite-only single-seat Rocket version with what Tesla calls a full flight system.
• Reservations: $50,000 for the Performance and $250,000 for the Thrust, according to Fox Business.
• Timing: Elon Musk says production will start in 2028.

The Roadster has a long history of delays. A prototype was first shown in 2017 with deliveries promised for 2020. Analysts quoted by Fox Business and Reuters cautioned that customer deliveries are still far away, even though Tesla shares rose at first after the unveiling.

Why Ferrari is paying attention

Vigna's comments also reflect Ferrari's own situation. In May, the company unveiled the Luce, its first fully electric car, designed with LoveFrom, the studio of former Apple design chief Jony Ive. Ferrari's shares fell after that announcement, and the company has been working to convince sceptics that an electric Ferrari can still feel like a Ferrari.

At the same conference, Vigna said Ferrari would not have achieved what it did with the Luce on its own, and that input from "people who were observing us from the outside" pushed the team to rethink many questions. Praising a rival's bold launch fits that message of openness to new ideas.

What it means for Tesla

Compliments do not sell cars, and the Roadster is not a volume product. Its value is as a halo car that shows off engineering and keeps the brand in the headlines. Recognition from Ferrari's CEO supports that role, at least in terms of image.

The harder questions remain open: how a car with high-pressure air tanks and thrusters will be approved for public roads, what it will cost, and whether Tesla can actually start production in 2028 after so many missed dates.

What to watch next

• Official pricing and final specifications for the three Roadster versions.
• Any regulatory feedback on the thruster system for road use.
• How Ferrari's Luce is received once deliveries begin, and whether other premium brands respond to Tesla's approach.