Electric vehicles (EVs) are expanding across the globe. The future is almost certainly an electrified automotive industry and the intense transition from internal combustion engines to EVs is opening up investing opportunities in not only traditional automakers, but also charging infrastructure companies, battery companies, and suppliers of all sizes, among many others.
QuantumScape (QS 1.36%) and Ferrari (RACE 1.78%) are rather unique in their own ways, and through the evolution of EVs could provide investors with sizable returns in the long term.
Home run potential
Investors probably throw the term "game-changing" around far too often, but the batteries QuantumScape is developing could be just that. QuantumScape is a leader in solid-state lithium-metal battery technology that promises investors and consumers faster recharging, longer range, enhanced safety, and lower costs -- essentially the holy grail for EV batteries.
While the stock will remain highly speculative and volatile in the near term, the company is in an exciting transition for long-term investors. QuantumScape, as of early 2026, is transitioning from a research-focused company to generating initial revenue, which alone could reduce risk and lure more institutional investment.
In fact, during QuantumScape's third quarter, the company started shipping B1 samples of its QSE-5 cell, a key milestone for its full-year vision, and through its new Cobra production process the company has taken a big step toward commercial volume production.
Image source: QuantumScape.
Another reason to be optimistic about QuantumScape long-term is its joint venture with PowerCo, Volkswagen Group's battery entity. The partnership will give PowerCo the license to mass produce QuantumScape's battery technology for roughly 1 million vehicles annually, in return for royalty payments.
Undercover electrification
When investors and consumers think of Ferrari, many likely think of the company's gas-guzzling supercars that are often found tearing up the racetrack. While that's fair, investors should also make a mental note that Ferrari is also an undercover electric vehicle powerhouse, it just goes about its strategy a little differently than traditional automakers currently.
NYSE: RACE
Key Data Points
Rather than diving all-in on full-electric vehicles as many mainstream automakers did -- and keep in mind many of those automakers are making expensive decisions to pull back on those plans -- Ferrari took a smaller step forward and invested in hybrids. So far, that decision has proven wise; hybrids generated 43% of Ferrari's shipments during the third quarter of 2025.
The great news for Ferrari investors is that demand and pricing power for Ferrari vehicles are so high the company isn't dealing with the profitability concerns that come with EVs for many automakers. In fact, if you look at Ferrari's impressive operating margins over time, you can see the metric consistently rise, emphasizing the company's durable competitive advantages.
RACE Operating Margin (TTM) data by YCharts
Are QuantumScape and Ferrari buys?
QuantumScape and Ferrari offer investors two very different angles to investing in the future of global EV markets. QuantumScape could be the first company to mass produce solid-state batteries, which would be a game changer for the EV industry, and set investors up for massive returns in the long term -- but with that comes sizable uncertainty and risk.
Meanwhile, Ferrari offers investors a much more stable way to dip their toes in the EV industry, as its shipments will still remain balanced between highly profitable internal combustion engine supercars and its newer line of hybrids, before launching its first full-electric vehicle in the near term.
