[Granucci]

But stays with designing: I'm for that!

Pininfarina exits carmaking business, plans to concentrate on design:

Originally Posted by Reuters, Zack Bowman

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Posted Oct 12th 2011 9:31AM

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.

News Source: Reuters

[lucca brazzi]

wouldnt the layoffs save the company money,?,,rather than cost them money,,thanks,,Brett

[colonel1961]

I thought Scaglietti did most of the body work, didn't know Pininfarina did, as well? Was it for Ferrari or others?

[Boxer]

Others. They have been in horrible financial condition for quite some time now.

[JazzyO]

Originally Posted by lucca brazzi

wouldnt the layoffs save the company money,?,,rather than cost them money,,thanks,,Brett

long term = save, short term = cost.


Onno

[champagne612]

I thought they were in bankruptcy and concentrating on Gov't projects.

I believe the FF was their finale

Isn't this old news with a PR spin?

[Granucci]

Not truly old news. Since he died in cycle accident about year or so ago, company was in flux.

I believe the design is their better area. Not very excited on some of the build execution work. Might be a nice time for that to change.

[tazandjan]

Pininfarina built many cars for Ferrari in the past, where they did the body, interior, etc, and final assembly was completed at the Ferrari factory. A good example of that is the 365 GTC/4. A comparison between the GTC/4 and GTB/4 will show the Pininfarina built bodies and interiors were higher quality than those done by Scaglietti in the good old days. Times change.

[Gcalo]

When the son was killed about 2 years ago it put that firm in bigger trouble. They were then in the hole a ton of $ and were then considering getting out of the custom/assembly work.

This move does not surprise me and will undoubtedly be a good one for them

[Andrew]

Learned a lot in this thread.

Curious, with Ferraris investment in the windtunnels, aero-dynamics etc for the F1 team, wouldn't they want to work closely with the designers on road cars? So when a car like the Enzo is built. They contract Pininfarina for designs, then test them in the tunnel and provide feedback?

Why wouldn't you bring this all in-house? Cheaper to outsource to a firm?

[Magnum6464]

Originally Posted by Andrew

Why wouldn't you bring this all in-house? Cheaper to outsource to a firm?

R&D is brutally expensive, outsourcing is deductible, an expense. Another thing, when you contract others to get the job done, in fear of losing a contract in the future, they work their ass off to ensure they make their customer happy. When it's inhouse, you sometimes get garbage like some current automakers who have no clue how to design cars anymore. They just dont know where to start and design beauty anymore. Look at scion....holly crap, the TC and XB for what they are....they are hot little cars, maybe not the best but cool looking. Damn, even Hyunday is coming up with cool models.....Ford, Chrysler and GM....all garbage.

I know some will chime in about american and import is crap but remember, styling is what makes the sales. Just like what Pininfarina has been doing with Ferrari......creating passion.

Well Scion and Hyunday are moving in the right direction.

So, is Pininfarina stopping Ferrari as well?



~

Mario

[Magnum6464]

Anyone seen Hyundai's new Equus?

$80K for a Hyundai damnnn....



~

Mario

[Gcalo]

I have and had opportunity to red a Sonata for a long W/E to LA and I was stunned as to the comfort, fuel mileage, and overall quality of the Sonata, and it is built in Huntsville, AL!

Hyundai wil take over Toyota and Honda soon.

Theya re nice cars.

I am going to test drive an Equus as well.

I'll get it in red and put badges on the fenders!

[champagne612]

Originally Posted by Gcalo

When the son was killed about 2 years ago it put that firm in bigger trouble. They were then in the hole a ton of $ and were then considering getting out of the custom/assembly work.

This move does not surprise me and will undoubtedly be a good one for them

I thought they were forced into bankruptcy but the Gov't contracts needed to be fulfilled so the accountants / bankruptcy lawyer / judge etc sized them down to complete their Gov't contracts and created a doable bankruptcy structure.

Agreed - they have been in extreme financial trouble for quite some time.

[champagne612]

Originally Posted by Gcalo

I have and had opportunity to red a Sonata for a long W/E to LA and I was stunned as to the comfort, fuel mileage, and overall quality of the Sonata, and it is built in Huntsville, AL!

Hyundai wil take over Toyota and Honda soon.

Theya re nice cars.

I am going to test drive an Equus as well.

I'll get it in red and put badges on the fenders!

I remember when Ford GM Chrysler and Co. were careless towards Honda and Toyota.

Years later - Hyundai Dealerships started popping up and then turned into used car lots.

The guys that stuck it out are reaping the benefits - Hyundai struggled for a long time as did the dealers ... taking on a brand new car mfg there is no warranty or service work.

Kudos to those dealers who survived

[Gcalo]

I don't know the whole story.

Anything is possible.

[Granucci]

Originally Posted by Magnum6464

R&D is brutally expensive, outsourcing is deductible, an expense. Another thing, when you contract others to get the job done, in fear of losing a contract in the future, they work their ass off to ensure they make their customer happy. When it's inhouse, you sometimes get garbage like some current automakers who have no clue how to design cars anymore. They just dont know where to start and design beauty anymore. Look at scion....holly crap, the TC and XB for what they are....they are hot little cars, maybe not the best but cool looking. Damn, even Hyunday is coming up with cool models.....Ford, Chrysler and GM....all garbage.

I know some will chime in about american and import is crap but remember, styling is what makes the sales. Just like what Pininfarina has been doing with Ferrari......creating passion.

Well Scion and Hyunday are moving in the right direction.

So, is Pininfarina stopping Ferrari as well?



~

Mario

One way Ferrari got around close testing from F1 and to get money back to boot, was the FXX programs, where customer's foot the bill for being on a Ferrari Race team and the telemetry was used by Ferrari for 'feedback' to customers...of course NONE of that info made it into R&D