Ferrari's decision to hire Jony Ive for its first electric vehicle's interior has sparked intense debate among car enthusiasts. The Ferrari Luce EV, set to debut in May, features a controversial design by the former Apple chief designer through his company LoveFrom. CEO Benedetto Vigna has now explained why Ferrari bypassed its own design team for this pivotal project.

Vigna, who joined Ferrari in 2021 after 20 years at STMicroelectronics, revealed that executive chairman John Elkann initiated the partnership with LoveFrom before Vigna's arrival. The CEO emphasized that Ferrari sought expertise in user interface design, noting he had previously worked with Ive's team at Apple. Despite having Chief Design Officer Flavio Manzoni, Vigna believed external collaboration was essential for this revolutionary electric vehicle.

The move represents Ferrari's strategic shift toward "open innovation" with multiple partners, particularly as the luxury automaker transitions to electric vehicles. Vigna admitted he initially underestimated the importance of industrial design, viewing it merely as styling rather than a discipline equal to engineering. The collaboration has already generated massive attention for Ferrari's EV launch, though reactions to the interior design have been mixed, with many critics comparing it unfavorably to Apple's infamous hockey puck mouse.