New Appointments Strengthen Automobili Pininfarina's Presence in North America
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As development of the pure-electric Battista hypercar continues apace, Automobili Pininfarina has confirmed strategic appointments to its team to enhance the progress of corporate development. The positions continue to build Automobili Pininfarina's line-up of world-class automotive, electric vehicle and mobility experts responsible for bringing the world's first fully electric luxury hyper GT, and future models, to market.
- With a significant proportion of Battista and future vehicle sales expected to come from the Americas, Thomas Hodges has joined Automobili Pininfarina's North American organization as Sales Manager. Thomas has a long and extensive background selling some of the world's most prestigious and expensive luxury and performance cars to discerning buyers.
- Christian Scheckenbach also joined Automobili Pininfarina at the start of February as Global Head of PR and Partnership Communications. Christian has an extensive experience in PR and Communications and joins from Byton, where he was Public Relations Manager for Europe, responsible for setting up the PR and media relations function for the start-up electric car brand. Prior to Byton, Christian was a media expert and spokesman for Audi AG, focused on future trends and developments. Christian is now the principle contact for media enquiries at Automobili Pininfarina, reporting to the company's Chief Brand Officer Dan Connell.
Confirming the appointments, Michael Perschke, Automobili Pininfarina Chief Executive Officer, said: "I am delighted to welcome Thomas and Christian to our growing Automobili Pininfarina team. They join our exceptional automotive and mobility experts at a pivotal point on our journey as we transition from theory to reality.
"Thomas is now preparing strategies to enhance the presence of Automobili Pininfarina in North America, with the support of our superb retailer partner network. We are particularly excited for Monterey Car Week this year, where we will celebrate the 90th anniversary celebrations of Pininfarina with some very special vehicle presentations."
Thomas Hodges said: "With the first Battista prototype cars soon to start testing, and the first hand-crafted customer cars due to be delivered later this year, our strategic direction is clearly set as one of the world's leading luxury automotive companies offering a range of high-performance electric cars. I'm excited to be part of a new business that is committed to building a new paradigm in luxury."
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Editor's notes
Automobili Pininfarina and the Battista
Automobili Pininfarina is based in Europe with offices in Turin, Italy, and Munich, Germany. A team of experienced automotive executives from luxury and premium car brands are designing, developing and producing all models that will be sold and serviced in all major global markets under the brand name Pininfarina. The new company aims to be the most sustainable luxury car brand in the world.
The company is a 100 per cent Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd investment and has been named Automobili Pininfarina following the signing of a trademark license agreement between Pininfarina SpA and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. Pininfarina SpA will take an influential role in supporting design and production capacities based on their unique almost 90-year experience of producing many of the world's most iconic cars.
The chronology of Automobili Pininfarina – redefining sustainable luxury performance:
April 2018: Anand Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra & Mahindra, Paolo Pininfarina, Chairman, Pininfarina SpA, and Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairman, Mahindra Racing, launch the new car brand with Michael Perschke, CEO, Automobili Pininfarina at the Rome Formula E race. Automobili Pininfarina confirms indicative performance targets for its first car, PF0 (later named Battista). 1,900 hp, 0 – 100 km/h in ‹2 seconds, top speed in excess of 350 km/h and an all-electric range of over 500 km.
August 2018: Full-scale design concept of PF0 revealed at an exclusive customer event in Pebble Beach, California. Confirmation that no more than 150 units of the exclusive all-electric hypercar will be built and the start of production during 2020.
September 2018: Automobili Pininfarina announces Rimac as the Technical Powertrain and Battery partner for the PF0. Confirms Munich as the company's headquarters.
December 2018: Automobili Pininfarina confirms that the previously code named PF0 will be called 'Battista', after Battista 'Pinin' Farina, the founder of the Carrozzeria Pininfarina coachbuilding company he started in 1930.
February 2019: Automobili Pininfarina announces the first stage of its retail strategy, confirming retail locations in the USA, Europe, Asia and Middle East, with an aspiration of 25-40 globally distributed retail specialists.
March 2019: Automobili Pininfarina Battista is the 'star of the show' at the Geneva Motor Show, with its first public showing. Battista also receives its German debut at GREENTECH Festival, Berlin, and its UK introduction at the 77th Goodwood Members Meeting.
April 2019: The Battista makes its first Italian appearance at the 2019 Rome Formula E race, exactly 12 months after the launch of the brand. The Battista also had its US public introduction at a star-studded event in New York, and Middle East reveal in Dubai, with retail partner Adamas Motors.
July 2019: The development program of the Automobili Pininfarina Battista continues apace, with wind tunnel testing underway and simulated dynamic performance tests completed under the guidance of Development Driver Nick Heidfeld.
August 2019: Automobili Pininfarina presents the PURA Vision at an exclusive viewing at Monterey Car Week. The PURA Vision design model shows how Automobili Pininfarina will channel historic inspiration into a vision of the future of automotive luxury.
September 2019: Automobili Pininfarina confirms strategic collaboration with Bosch to jointly develop a high-performance electric vehicle platform to underpin future Automobili Pininfarina cars.
November 2019: Automobili Pininfarina launches Hyperdrive, giving clients the opportunity of driving a Mahindra Formula E race car to experience extreme electric vehicle performance.
Press contacts:
Dan Connell
Chief Brand Officer
(M) +49 (0) 160 553 0318
Email: [email protected]
Christian Scheckenbach
Head of PR and Partnership Communications
(M) +49 (0) 171 265 4094
Email: [email protected]
SOURCE Automobili Pininfarina
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