Italian car designer and chairman of the Pininfarina Group, Paolo Pininfarina, has died aged 65 in his hometown of Turin, surrounded by his family.
Paolo was born on August 28, 1958, to Sergio Pininfarina and Giorgia Gianolio. He was the grandson of Pininfarina founder Battista. As a member of the Pininfarina family, Paolo was destined to make an impact on the automotive industry, and he began his career after graduating from the Polytechnic University of Turin with a degree in mechanical engineering.
From here, Paolo gained professional experience working for Cadillac, Honda and General Motors, before joining the family business in 1982. Paolo’s innate talent for design meant that by 1987 he had risen to the position of president and CEO of Pininfarina Extra, a subsidiary company specialising in industrial design, furniture, architecture, and nautical and aeronautical design.
Paolo joined Pininfarina’s board of directors one year later, and had been a member of the management committee of Pininfarina SpA since 2002. He was also made vice-president of the company in 2006, and he assumed the position of chairman in 2008 after the untimely passing of his brother Andrea.
Paolo oversaw the design of many incredible creations during his long and storied career, and he noted among his favourite creations the two-seater Sergio concept created in memory of his father, and the Battista hypercar named after his grandfather. Paolo also shared his appreciation for the Ferrari Dino and Cistalia 202 in a recent interview with Magneto.
“I express deep sorrow and condolences for the loss of our dear chairman,” said Pininfarina CEO Silvio Angori. “We are all extremely grateful to Eng. Pininfarina for his extraordinary contribution to the company, and for always passionately advocating for our history and corporate identity both in terms of style and in ethical and behavioural choices… The best way to honour his memory is to continue, as he would want, to commit ourselves to the future of Pininfarina.”
Paolo is survived by his wife Ilaria, his five children Greta, Giovanni, Iole, Tullio and Giulia, and his mother Giorgia.
