Sad Day

Beyond sad.

Pininfarina exits carmaking business, plans to concentrate on design

Reuters reports that Pininfarina will lay off 127 workers as the company shuts down its manufacturing business to focus more heavily on design and engineering. The Italian company points to the declining automotive market as the reason behind the move. The layoffs are expected to cost the company around €2.9 million, or $3.96 million at current conversion rates.

Pininfarina recently ended a joint venture with Volvo to produce the C70 in Uddevalla, leaving us to wonder where the model would be manufactured in the future. Meanwhile, Pininfarina is busily courting suitors to purchase a stake in the design firm as part of a debt restructuring agreement with the company's creditors.

French billionaire Vincent Ballore is one investor who has expressed an interest in purchasing part of the family-owned company. In the future, Pininfarina is expected to focus its efforts on contracted design and engineering work.

 

D-a-y-u-m. A sad day indeed

I always thought the little "Designo di Pininfarina" badges were *so* cool.

However, the way I read it at least, they'll still be doing coachwork for whoever wants it. ie, Ferraris will still be penned in their studios? [Hopefully! They've done some beauties over the years.]

Cheers,
Ian

 

It is not the best news, but just like the rest of us they have to adapt to a changing environment.

There is no such thing as good times or bad times, just different times, and its up to each of us to figure out what it is going to take to make it Today.

 

"Reuters reports that Pininfarina will lay off 127 workers as the company shuts down its manufacturing business to focus more heavily on design and engineering."

So does that mean it's the end of the road for designing for Ferrari?

 

Not the way I read it; They're going to concentrate on that part of the business it seems to me - They want to be a design & styling studio, not a manufacturer.

Cheers,
Ian

 

Now what?

 

Does this mean that P 4/5 wouldn't have been possible had they made this decision earlier? Or would they still consider one-off projects for certain customers?

 

Based upon the news I would say that contract manufacturing is over. But design requires prototyping ability so the ability to do show cars should remain intact.

Jeff

 

We owe a debt of thanks to Pininfarina for all the beautiful Ferrari designs over the years.

Their most recent Ferrari design is the 458 Spider. The first mid-engine retractable hardtop convertible.

Wishing the best for the 127 that are abruptly leaving the company today, and also wishing for good fortune for the others that remain.

 

I don't really see this as a "sad day" then. Let them focus on design rather then burying themselves in trying to also manufacture. I read that when Andrea died they were in debt in the billions at that time. Something crazy like either $90 or $300 billion?? Design is a tough one as it's sometimes difficult to get paid for all the effort put in. With more savvy management they should be able to turn things around allowing the world to continue to enjoy their wonderful, Italian design creations.

 

You guys should read this bit of news about Pininfarina contract manufacturing from January 2009.

Pininfarina sheds contract manufacturing
http://www.caradvice.com.au/20194/pininfarina-sheds-contract-manufacturing/

 

Debt was $867 million back in '08.

http://www.leftlanenews.com/pininfarina-close-to-debt-relief-deal.html

 

With them gone, there will be a lot more ugly cars on the road.

Art

 

But they will be concentrating on design, so at least we have that.

 

Well this just sucks.

 

Design: Great

Build, so so....Perhaps someone can execute better builds and such.

This is a plus to me.

 

I didn't even realise they were a builder. I thought they only designed.

 

+1 I thought this was a bump of that '99 story

 

Jim's car just became even MORE special

 

Sad but frankly not surprising given the shrinking market for outsourcing automotive design. Any car company that is competitive nowadays will want to do the design work in house. I think it stinks but with fewer client opportunities it's the smart move. Not too mention the profit margins vs. time to deliver the design brief is greater in product design.

It certainly won't mean the end of incredible, custom one offs such as the P4/5. There are many, many talented individuals who are fully capable of creating the most mind blowing concepts given the time and money.

 

sad

 

I bet that made for some awkward small talk over brunch.