Ferrari has taken a monumental step in automotive innovation with the inauguration of its new e-building. This advanced facility, which will produce internal combustion-engined cars, hybrids, and Ferrari’s first electric model, was opened today with Italian President Sergio Mattarella in attendance. The event was hosted by Ferrari's top executives, including Chairman John Elkann, Vice Chairman Piero Ferrari, and CEO Benedetto Vigna, alongside representatives of the Ferrari workforce.
John Elkann expressed his gratitude for President Mattarella's presence, emphasizing the plant's dual focus on people and environmental sustainability. He highlighted that investing in local infrastructure is crucial for Ferrari's future and reaffirms the company's dedication to Italian excellence.
The e-building is a testament to Ferrari's commitment to enhancing production flexibility, aligning with its strategy of prioritizing revenue quality over quantity. This facility embodies technological neutrality, supporting the production and development of various powertrains, including internal combustion engines, hybrid engines, and new electric motors. Each powertrain is designed to deliver Ferrari’s signature driving excitement.
By consolidating the production of the entire range in a single building, Ferrari can streamline and reallocate its production activities more efficiently across its existing facilities in Maranello. This integration increases Ferrari's ability to quickly adapt to changing production needs, ensuring optimal operational efficiency.
Equipped with cutting-edge technology, the e-building will also produce strategic electrical components essential for differentiating Ferrari’s technology and performance, such as high-voltage batteries, electric motors, and axles.
The e-building is designed to achieve the highest levels of energy performance. It is powered by over 3,000 solar panels installed on the roof, generating 1.3 MW of power. With the scheduled shutdown of the trigeneration plant by the end of the year, the facility will be fully powered by renewable energy, sourced internally and externally with a guarantee of origin.
Innovative solutions have been implemented to reuse energy and rainwater within the production cycle. For instance, more than 60% of the energy used for battery and motor testing will be recovered and redirected to power new processes. The plant was constructed on redeveloped land north of the Ferrari campus, replacing outdated industrial structures without additional land consumption.
Ferrari prioritizes the training and well-being of its workers. The e-building includes a dedicated training space, where the training program for new line workers began two years ago. This program focuses on developing the necessary skills and processes for the new systems and products, particularly those related to electric motors. In addition to traditional mechanical and electronic skills, new competencies in chemistry and battery assembly production processes have been integrated.
The manufacturing processes in the e-building are equipped with collaborative robots that adapt their behavior to the operator’s needs and digital twins that create digital replicas of products and processes. These technologies empower employees, elevating their roles within the production process and ensuring the excellence and attention to detail that Ferrari is known for.
The facility also incorporates various solutions to enhance the well-being of its employees, including ergonomic workstations, relaxation areas, and a mix of natural and artificial lighting to improve acoustic and visual comfort.
The e-building underscores Ferrari’s central role in the local industrial landscape, reinforced by continuous investments aligned with the community's needs. The integration of the building into the urban context involved an extensive urban redevelopment of over 100,000 square meters and a redesign of the road infrastructure. A new road serving the site and a 1.5-kilometer bike path connected to the town’s network were also constructed.
The road design ensures that heavy traffic is concentrated around the e-building logistics hub, minimizing its impact on pedestrian routes.
The exterior façades and main interior spaces of the e-building were designed by MCA, Mario Cucinella Architects, a firm renowned for sustainable solutions and urban regeneration. The rectangular building, standing 25 meters high, harmonizes with the surrounding landscape and buildings. Its façade features a highly efficient "skin" of opaline glazing interspersed with clear glass, reducing its visual mass and allowing natural light to permeate the interior. At night, the building resembles a glowing lantern.
The façade components were designed and manufactured using Design for Manufacturing and Assembly principles, facilitating on-site assembly and maintenance, ensuring cost efficiency, and reducing environmental impact.
E-Building Data and Information
- Project: Mario Cucinella Architects
- Duration of Work: 2 years
- Construction Site Workers: 350
- Total Surface Area: 42,500 square meters
- Wards:
- Lower floor: General systems
- Ground floor: Vehicle assembly and logistics
- Mezzanine: General systems, offices
- Second floor: Vehicle assembly, engines, and components
- E-Building Staff: Over 300 workers
- Energy Certifications: Undergoing certification for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), level platinum, and NZeb (nearly zero energy building)
- Efficiency:
- Emissions: -2.7 Ktons CO2e vs. a comparable non-electrified building
- Photovoltaic System: Over 3,000 solar panels, with a peak power of 1.3 MW
- Digital Infrastructure: Wi-Fi 6.0 for production information management, Ultra-wideband for component location and AGV collision prevention
- Water Treatment: 200 m³ storage tank for rainwater collection, treatment, and reuse, and a 1,000 m³ lamination tank for excess flow control
- Green Areas: 200 trees
- Parking Lots: 1,400 parking spaces, mitigating the impact on local public parking
