Paolo Pininfarina, president of famous design house, dies at 65

Paolo Pininfarina, Chairman of the Pininfarina Group and son of famous designer, Sergio Pininfarina, passed away yesterday in Turin surrounded by his family. The 65-year-old worked for Cadillac, Honda, and GM before taking the lead of Pininfarina Group in 2008, after the death of his brother.

His grandfather, Battista Pininfarina, founded the Carrozzeria Pinin Farina back in 1930. Since then, the design house has contributed to countless automotive treasures, making it one of the staples of the Italian automotive industry.

Family loss

In an official statement, Pininfarina Group announced that Paolo Pininfarina was with his wife, mother, and five children when he passed away yesterday. At only 65, he leaves a company of which he took the lead back in 2008, after his brother’s sudden death in a car accident.

Paolo Pininfarina was a mechanical engineer and worked for Cadillac, Honda, and General Motors before joining the family company in 1982.  Now Pininfarina Group, the company comprises of the design house and an automotive branch, named Automobili Pininfarina. The latter one is in charge of the development and construction of the Battista electric supercar announced in 2018.

At the heart of the Italian automotive industry

Carrozzeria Pinin Farina was founded back in 1930, by Battista Pininfarina. Paolo’s grandfather’s company went on to work on some of the most influential cars, such as the aerodynamic Lancia Aprilia.

In the post-war era, the company found work for Peugeot and Ferrari. Paolo’s father, Sergio, signed most of the better-known and most beautiful Ferraris, Maseratis, and Alfa Romeos of this world.