Pininfarina and Mahindra have announced plans to launch a new electric vehicle company called Automobili Pininfarina.
Set to build on the legendary Pininfarina name, the brand will be based in Europe and “manufacture high technology, extreme performance, luxury electric vehicles for the most discerning global customers.” The companies were light on specifics but it sounds like Pininfarina will be responsible for the styling while Mahindra while be providing the powertrain technology.
The first model will be launched in 2020 and it will be an electric hypercar that builds on Mahindra’s experience in Formula E. Little is known about the model but previous reports have suggested the car will be called the PF-Zero. Initial reports also claimed Rimac would be involved in the project but today’s announcement didn’t include any mention of the automaker.
Production will likely be extremely limited
While little is known about Automobili Pininfarina, Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra promised the company will “develop a rare collector’s item that only a handful of connoisseurs will ever own.” He went on to say electric vehicles are the future and the company will create the “perfect luxury vehicle that will give car lovers the freedom to roam without impacting the planet adversely.”
Pininfarina chairman Paolo Pininfarina also praised the announcement as he said “This project helps me and my family to realize my grandfather’s dream of seeing outstanding innovative cars solely branded Pininfarina on the roads.”
While many questions remain, one report have suggested the hypercar will be followed by three electric crossovers that target models such as the Lamborghini Urus, Porsche Cayenne and Porsche Macan. However, that report may have been incorrectly referring to the Hybrid Kinetic Group which is working on three Pininfarina-designed crossovers including the K350, K550 and K750.
