Automobili Pininfarina

Automobili Pininfarina GmbH is a luxury electric-vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Munich, Germany, with additional design and office activities in Turin, Italy. The company is connected to the historic Pininfarina automotive design house and coachbuilder, Pininfarina S.p.A., whose name became available to Mahindra Group after Mahindra acquired Pininfarina S.p.A. in December 2015. Unlike the traditional Pininfarina business, which became widely known for designing and engineering vehicles for other manufacturers, Automobili Pininfarina was created to develop and sell complete vehicles carrying the Pininfarina badge. The project emerged from Mahindra & Mahindra's plans for a high-end electric-vehicle business. Michael Perschke, formerly associated with Audi India, was reported in early 2018 to be leading a new Mahindra electric-vehicle initiative. Mahindra formally launched Automobili Pininfarina at the Rome ePrix on 13 April 2018. The announcement positioned the new company as a separate luxury vehicle manufacturer focused on low-volume, high-performance, zero-emission cars. Paolo Pininfarina, chairman of Pininfarina S.p.A., described the initiative as a way of realizing the Pininfarina family's long-standing ambition to see exceptional cars sold under the family name. The first product was initially known by the project name PF0 and was later named Battista, after Battista Farina, the founder of Pininfarina S.p.A. The electric hypercar was publicly unveiled at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show after an earlier presentation at the 2018 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Its development relied on a technical relationship with Croatian electric-vehicle specialist Rimac, which supplied the battery and electric powertrain technology described for the vehicle. The Battista uses a carbon-fibre structure and four electric motors, one for each wheel, and was planned as a strictly limited production model of 150 cars. Production began in 2021 according to the company's Wikipedia profile. Automobili Pininfarina's positioning combines Italian design heritage, German-based corporate and engineering operations, and the performance potential of advanced electric propulsion. Its products target the very top end of the luxury market rather than mass-market EV customers. The company has emphasized limited volumes, bespoke design, extreme acceleration, and the use of the Pininfarina name as a complete marque rather than merely a design signature. The company broadened its displayed product vision in 2023. The Pura Vision concept introduced an all-electric luxury sport-utility vehicle interpretation of the brand's design language, including pillarless front doors and upward-opening rear doors. At the same Monterey Car Week event, Automobili Pininfarina presented the B95, an open-top electric barchetta derived from the brand's hypercar direction. The B95 was scheduled for production in 2025 and represented a second ultra-low-volume model following the Battista. Publicly documented information supports describing Automobili Pininfarina as an active specialist manufacturer with a very small model range, centered on exclusive electric vehicles and design-led luxury positioning.

Automobili Pininfarina developed from the relationship between Mahindra Group and the Pininfarina design organization. On 14 December 2015, Mahindra Group acquired Pininfarina S.p.A., the Italian design and coachbuilding company associated with numerous historic automotive projects. The acquisition gave Mahindra rights connected with the Pininfarina name and created the foundation for a new business dedicated to vehicles sold under that marque. In February 2018, Michael Perschke, a former Audi India executive, was reported as leading a new Mahindra electric-vehicle project. Mahindra subsequently confirmed the project's identity when it launched Automobili Pininfarina at the Rome ePrix on 13 April 2018. The new company was conceived as a Munich-headquartered luxury electric-vehicle manufacturer, while retaining important design links with Turin and Pininfarina S.p.A. The business aimed to produce complete, zero-emission vehicles rather than act solely as an external styling studio. The launch was closely associated with the Pininfarina family's own historical aspirations. Paolo Pininfarina, chairman of Pininfarina S.p.A., presented the initiative as an opportunity to place exceptional innovative vehicles on the road under the Pininfarina name. Anand Mahindra likewise described the marque as an unfinished automotive story that Mahindra could help bring to completion. In April 2018, Luca Borgogno moved from Pininfarina S.p.A. to become Automobili Pininfarina's design director. The company announced plans for an ultra-low-volume, zero-emission luxury hypercar, then expected for production from 2020. In September 2018, Automobili Pininfarina announced Nick Heidfeld as development driver and brand ambassador. It also disclosed a technical partnership with Rimac Automobili, the Croatian electric-vehicle specialist. Rimac was identified as the supplier of the battery and electric-powertrain technology for the company's first car. In November of the same year, Automobili Pininfarina announced an investment of more than €20 million in Pininfarina S.p.A. for design and related services and introduced its PURA design philosophy, intended to balance visual purity with engineering requirements. The first car, originally called PF0, was named Battista after Battista Farina, the founder of Pininfarina S.p.A. The model was previewed at the 2018 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and presented publicly at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. It became the company's first production vehicle and began production in 2021. The Battista was designed as a carbon-fibre electric hypercar with four motors and a limited planned production run of 150 units. Its technical specification included a 120 kWh battery, claimed output of approximately 1,400 kW, a top speed above 349 km/h, and a claimed 0–100 km/h time below two seconds. Following the Battista, the company expanded its design and product exploration. At Monterey Car Week in 2023 it revealed Pura Vision, an all-electric luxury SUV concept featuring unconventional door architecture, including pillarless front doors and upward-opening rear doors. The same event saw the presentation of B95, an open-top electric barchetta. B95 was planned as a limited-production model for 2025, reflecting the company's strategy of creating highly exclusive body styles rather than pursuing high-volume vehicle production. Automobili Pininfarina's documented history therefore centers on the conversion of a celebrated design name into a standalone electric luxury marque. Its business model is characterized by low production volumes, high technical performance, Italian-inspired styling, and close association with Mahindra's corporate resources and Pininfarina's design heritage. The available reference material does not establish a complete current executive roster, detailed delivery totals, or a later mass-market expansion, so those areas remain limited in this entry.

• 2023

  Pura Vision and B95 debut

  [1]Automobili Pininfarinaen.wikipedia.org

  The company expanded its portfolio presentation with an electric luxury SUV concept and an open-top electric barchetta at Monterey Car Week.

• 2021

  Battista production begins

  [1]Automobili Pininfarinaen.wikipedia.org

  The Battista became the company's first production model.

• 2019

  Battista shown at Geneva

  [1]Automobili Pininfarinaen.wikipedia.org

  The first Pininfarina-branded production vehicle was presented publicly at the Geneva Motor Show.

• 2018

  Automobili Pininfarina is launched

  [1]Automobili Pininfarinaen.wikipedia.org

  Mahindra & Mahindra introduced the new luxury electric-vehicle company at the Rome ePrix on 13 April.

• 2018

  Luca Borgogno becomes Design Director

  [1]Automobili Pininfarinaen.wikipedia.org

  Borgogno joined from Pininfarina S.p.A. as the new marque's design director.

• 2018

  Battista project and Rimac partnership announced

  [1]Automobili Pininfarinaen.wikipedia.org

  The company named Nick Heidfeld as development driver and disclosed Rimac's role in supplying battery and powertrain technology for the first car.

• 2018

  PURA design philosophy introduced

  [1]Automobili Pininfarinaen.wikipedia.org

  Automobili Pininfarina announced an investment of more than €20 million in Pininfarina S.p.A. for services and presented its PURA design approach.

• 2015

  Mahindra acquires Pininfarina S.p.A.

  [1]Automobili Pininfarinaen.wikipedia.org

  Mahindra Group acquired the Italian design and coachbuilding company, establishing the corporate relationship from which Automobili Pininfarina later emerged.

Ultra-luxury, design-led electric vehicles produced in highly limited volumes, combining Pininfarina's Italian styling heritage with advanced electric performance.

• Electric hypercar · 2019

  Battista

  The Battista is Automobili Pininfarina's first production vehicle and its foundational product. Initially developed under the PF0 project name, it is named after Battista Farina, founder of Pininfarina S.p.A. The car uses a carbon-fibre monocoque and carbon-fibre body panels, a 120 kWh battery pack, and four electric motors arranged with one motor at each wheel. The company described output of about 1,400 kW, a top speed exceeding 349 km/h, acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in under two seconds, and a planned production volume of 150 cars. It was presented publicly in 2019 and entered production in 2021.

• Electric luxury SUV concept · 2023

  Pura Vision

  Pura Vision is an all-electric luxury SUV concept that demonstrates the brand's broader design direction beyond two-seat or hypercar applications. Revealed at Monterey Car Week in 2023, the concept used pillarless front doors and upward-opening rear doors. The vehicle is documented as a concept rather than a confirmed production model, and its principal role is to express the PURA design language in a larger luxury vehicle format.

• Electric barchetta · 2023

  B95

  B95 is an open-top, pure-electric barchetta developed as a second ultra-exclusive model after the Battista. It was first shown during Monterey Car Week in 2023. The two-seat, open-body format extends Automobili Pininfarina's emphasis on dramatic design and very limited production rather than conventional volume manufacturing. The company scheduled the model to enter production in 2025, although the supplied reference material does not provide final production totals or delivery information.

• 2018

  Create a standalone Pininfarina-branded electric-vehicle manufacturerStrategy

  Background

  Mahindra's acquisition of Pininfarina S.p.A. created an opportunity to use the design house's name on complete vehicles. The new company was intended to turn Pininfarina from a primarily design and engineering identity into a luxury automotive marque.

  Action taken

  Mahindra launched Automobili Pininfarina as a Munich-based company focused on ultra-low-volume, zero-emission luxury vehicles.

  Aftermath

  The strategy produced the Battista hypercar and later led to the Pura Vision and B95 portfolio concepts.

  Source

• 2018

  Adopt Rimac electric powertrain technology for BattistaOther

  Background

  As a new manufacturer without a long-established in-house electric powertrain platform, Automobili Pininfarina required an external technical partner for its first hypercar.

  Action taken

  The company announced a technical partnership with Rimac Automobili, which supplied the Battista's battery and electric powertrain technology.

  Aftermath

  The partnership supported the Battista's four-motor, high-performance electric architecture.

  Source

• 2018

  Invest in Pininfarina S.p.A. and introduce PURA design philosophyStrategy

  Background

  Automobili Pininfarina needed continuing access to the Italian design house's capabilities while establishing a distinct vehicle brand.

  Action taken

  The company announced an investment of more than €20 million in Pininfarina S.p.A. for services and presented the PURA design philosophy.

  Aftermath

  PURA became the stated design framework for subsequent product exploration, including the Pura Vision concept.

  Investment in Pininfarina S.p.A. for services. More than €20 million (2018 announcement)

  Source

• 2023

  Automobili Pininfarina presents Pura Vision and B95 at Monterey Car Week[1]Automobili Pininfarinaen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Product generation

  The company displayed the Pura Vision electric luxury SUV concept and the B95 electric barchetta, expanding its future product portfolio beyond the Battista.

• 2019

  Battista hypercar presented at the Geneva Motor Show[1]Automobili Pininfarinaen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The Battista was shown publicly at Geneva after its earlier private and preview appearances, establishing the company's first production model.

• 2018

  Mahindra launches Automobili Pininfarina electric-vehicle marque at Rome ePrix[1]Automobili Pininfarinaen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Mahindra & Mahindra publicly introduced Automobili Pininfarina as a new luxury electric-vehicle business during the Rome Formula E event.

• 2018

  Automobili Pininfarina appoints Luca Borgogno as Design Director[1]Automobili Pininfarinaen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  Luca Borgogno joined from Pininfarina S.p.A. as design director as the new company prepared its first Pininfarina-branded electric hypercar.

• 2018

  Nick Heidfeld named development driver and brand ambassador[1]Automobili Pininfarinaen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  The former Formula One driver was announced in a development and ambassador role during the Battista program.

1. 1Automobili Pininfarinaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Battista Wins Coveted Design Award At Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2021prnewswire.com
3. 3Pininfarina celebrates its 90th anniversary with the EUR 2.6 million Battista Anniversario - Overdriveoverdrive.in