Automobili Pininfarina CEO Per Svantesson is serious about sustainability and the environment.
After many years in the industry for Volvo and various parts suppliers, Svantesson left the business and started several companies working on battery and fuel cell technology. Svantesson said he wanted to be ahead of the curve when the switch to EVs arrived, but wasn’t sure about the timing at the time.
Today, he’s driving change at the top of the automotive industry: the high-end ultra-luxury segment with the Battista GT hypercar. Each car is handcrafted in Italy by one of the respected design houses in the business, takes nearly 2,000 hours and is powered by four Rimac-sourced electric motors, each producing a staggering 1900 horsepower.
And the price of a single car exceeds $2 million.
But the eye-popping price tag shouldn’t deter buyers of the otherworldly Batista, even in these uncertain times.
Speaking to Yahoo Finance at a Pininfarina customer and dealer event in Greenwich, Connecticut, Per Svantesson told Yahoo Finance: “It’s really an experience to drive. The powertrain that we have can do things that other cars can’t because there are four motors, one on each wheel, that work perfectly with each other.” Because it’s independent and controlled by a torque vectoring system that distributes the power and recalculates the distribution every millisecond…it’s a sensation.”
The sensation Batista creates was largely put on hold for some time. After the design concept was revealed, COVID-19 struck, sending much of Italy into lockdown in early 2020. The company has weathered tough times and with backing from Indian automotive and mobility giant Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M.NS), Pininfarina is now able to begin deliveries of his two vehicles in the United States. , one of which he had on display here in Greenwich.
“So we’re a little late, but we’re there now,” Svantesson says. “Firstly, the pandemic and parts shortages and now the war in Ukraine does not help. But we have found a way through it. helped us find what we needed.”
Pininfarina is the automaker’s latest creation, which is being kept secret and the company is hesitant to discuss. Pininfarina comes after Mercedes and similar competitors in the premium EV segment It might, but Svantesson said it wouldn’t.
“We did a few private shows at Pebble Beach and invited clients who had already purchased Battista as well as other potential partners and customers. We showed them the concept of the future.” says Svantesson. “We intend to stay at the high end of the luxury segment and not increase the volume in the premium segment.”
Automobili Pininfarina is proud to be the world’s first ‘pure electric’ luxury brand. Svantesson and company see it not only as a business card for performance, but also as a way to demonstrate respect and commitment to the company’s impact on the planet.
“This kind of set-up and that kind of driving experience cannot be achieved with any other powertrain, but we are also pushing for sustainability to reduce our footprint,” said Svantesson. “We want to give people the opportunity to enjoy luxury without feeling guilty, without impacting the environment. It’s zero.”
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Pras Subramanian is a reporter at Yahoo Finance.you can follow him twitter and Instagram.
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