AUTOMOBILI PININFARINA ANNOUNCE MAJOR DEAL IN BID TO BECOME WORLD’S MOST SUSTAINABLE LUXURY EV CAR BRAND
The world’s newest car brand confirms new HQin Munich and senior management line up, as well as a €50M partnership deal with Rimac
Automobili Pininfarina has today made a series of major announcements from its new headquarters that will see it strengthen its management team, secure cutting-edge, world-beating electric powertrain technology, and put Formula 1 and Formula E experience in the PF0 hypercar driving seat.
Automobili Pininfarina was announced in Rome in April 2018 as the world’s newest car brand, with an ambition to sustainably develop and produce fully-electric, ultra-luxury cars at the pinnacle of design and desirability.
The company will offer a range of cars designed and hand-crafted by legendary Italian automotive styling house Pininfarina SpA. The first, an ultra-exclusive, luxury electric hypercar codenamed PF0, will be launched at the Geneva Motor Show in 2019, with production beginning in 2020.
Munich has been confirmed as the company’s corporate and operational headquarters, providing access to expertise and engineering networks in arguably the world’s most successful and technologically advanced car market. Munich’sproximity to northern Italy, the home of Pininfarina SpA – who will design and build the PF0 under contract – was also key to CEO Michael Perschke’sselection of it for the global headquarters.
At a press conference today, CEO Michael Perschkeand special guest Dr. Pawan Goenka, Mahindra & Mahindra Managing Director, also introduced an impressive line up of partners and collaborators –including a unique technical partnership with RimacAutomobili to provide battery and drivetrain expertise, software, and hardware, in a contract worth up to €50m.
As well as the partnership with Rimac, AutomobiliPininfarina also announced Nick Heidfeld as their new Development Driver. With nearly 20 years of top-level motor racing experience to call upon, Nick will be responsible for honing the PF0 vehicle dynamics programme from the beginning of 2019, with a clear personal ambition: to help develop the most enjoyable electric performance car in the world.
Perschke said: “Today marks a significant step for the launch of a range of Pininfarina-branded cars and for PF0, which will be the most powerful Italian-built sports car in history – and the first luxury hypercar to be conceived in Germany. We have developed a sophisticated brief to deliver a ground-breaking all-electric hyper GT car to clients from 2020, and now we are curating the partners and suppliers to deliver this dream. The results will be electrifying for owners of Automobili Pininfarina cars in the future!”
