Auto Design

A tragic traffic accident has killed Andrea Pininfarina, 51, this morning shortly after 8 o’clock.

The Chairman and CEO of the famous Pininfarina Spa, Andrea Pininfarina was the third generation member of the family and the grandson of founder Pinin Farina. He leaves his wife, Cristina Pollion di Persano and three heirs: Benedetta, Sergio and Luca, 22, 20 and 14 respectively.

August is holiday time in Italy and everybody is supposed to be at sea or on the mountains but not Andrea, who was going to his office at the Cambiano headquarters. According to his agenda, today the ultimate Pininfarina fuoriserie, the Rolls-Royce Hyperion was going to be shipped to California’s Pebble Beach event, after his final approval.

He was killed on its way to the office when his Vespa scooter hit a car that reportedly crossed his way. Both rider and driver could not see each other because of a truck parked closed to the crossing and obscuring the visibility.

Andrea Pininfarina was born on June 26^th, 1957 in Torino, where he was educated. After graduating from the Polytechnic University of Turin he made his first working experience at Freuehauf Corp. in the United States. He joined the family business late in 1983 and was soon appointed Program Manager of the Cadillac Allante’ project. After a series of experience and steps within the Pininfarina group of companies he was appointed CEO of the holding company, Pininfarina Spa in July 2001 and five year later, following his father nomination to Senator for Life at the Italian parliament, he has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors.

A member of the Board of Directors of a number of companies such as Alenia Aeronautica S.p.A., Banca Passadore & C. S.p.A., Poltrona Frau S.p.A. Unicredit Infrastrutture S.p.A. (Chairman), Andrea has served a term as Vice-President of Confindustria (The Italian Industry association) and the chairman of a number of local and national associations. Ha was also a Chevalier” of the French “Légion d’Honneur”, and nominated “Knight of Labour” by the President of the Italian Republic.

I have had the privilege of meeting with him on several occasions. He was a gentleman. Committed to his company and to his family. He was assertive and, like his grand-father, not easy to   please but fair, brilliant, passionate and charismatic. I, we all, will greatly miss him. At this time I also think of his father Sergio, his sister Lorenza and younger brother Paolo.

Here I like remember the man who worked hard to grant the company, he inherited from the family, a bright future with a series of visual memories from the recent past, and to give him the last word with this interview published on the occasion of the latest Geneva Motor Show.

Click on image below for visual memories.