Automobili Pininfarina Is Now an Official Automaker

The new EV company is planning an electric hypercar for 2020 launch.

The Pininfarina H2 won best concept at the 2016 Geneva motor show.

Pininfarina and new-ish owner/Indian EV/Roxor-maker Mahindra will partner on an Automobili Pininfarina-badged electric hypercar due in 2020. Mahindra will get Pinin’s legendary design skills while Pininfarina will benefit from Mahindra’s, and we’re hearing Rimac’s, electric car expertise. We got a taste of the design house’s direction at the Geneva auto show last month.

“We are pleased to welcome the new company, Automobili Pininfarina, which represents an additional client for Pininfarina SpA,” said Paolo Pininfarina, grandson of founder Battista ‘Pinin’ Farina, “joining the list of the many prestigious car makers for which we will be designing cars in the future. This project helps me and my family to realize my grandfather’s dream of seeing outstanding innovative cars solely branded Pininfarina on the roads.”

The new company, Automobili Pininfarina, will be led by CEO Michael Perschke, who has worked at both Audi and Volkswagen in director and marketing positions.

We're hoping the upcoming hypercar looks something like this Pininfarina H2 Speed.

“Establishing Automobili Pininfarina as a leading sustainable luxury brand is our strategic vision and will be a dream come true. It will combine 88 years of iconic design heritage with leading edge electric vehicle competence of the Mahindra Group and Mahindra Formula E racing. It’s a powerful combination,” said Perschke. “I am honored to lead Automobili Pininfarina, and our ambition is to make it a respected and desirable brand recognized by connoisseurs who value design heritage, substance and sustainable high-performance EV technology.”

Autocar says the first vehicle from Automobili Pininfarina will be based on one of the supercars Croatian automaker Rimac builds -- and could have almost 1,500 hp. The codename for the new car is PF-Zero. SUVs will follow, including small, medium and large sizes to compete with the Lamborghini Uruses and Porsche Macans of the world.

"The Mahindra Group has bet big on electric vehicles," said Anand Mahindra, chairman. "They are the future, and when power, beauty and high-end EV technology come together in one car -- that will be the perfect luxury vehicle, that will give car lovers the freedom to roam without impacting the planet adversely.”

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
More From Sports Cars