BAIC is bidding to acquire Italy's Pininfarina, exec says

• Source: Gasgoo
• [08:44 December 29 2010]
• Comments

Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Corp (BAIC) is bidding to acquire Pininfarina S.p.A., an Italian car design firm and coachbuilder, eeo.com.cn reported Tuesday, citing an executive at BAIC's passenger car division.

"I just came back from Italy last week and have communicated with the technical staff at Pininfarina about the design proposal of the Saab models," the person said. "Pininfarina is the most successful overseas car design company in China. BAIC has been collaborating with it on development of models based on the Sabb technology and will display an all-new concept car with the Sabb genes at next year's Shanghai auto show, while Pininfarina will be responsible for the contour design of the car."

In addition, the person said: "BAIC has submitted the bid for the Italian firm for several months. The successful acquisition of Pininfarina will be very favorable for BAIC's development of future models. But BAIC does not have to win the bid, after all, the two sides are still under the cooperation."

The other auto makers in the bidding include India auto makers, Mahindra and Bajaj Auto, Brilliance Auto Group, Anhui Jiangling Automobile and Magna International.

Pininfarina has been employed by a wide variety of high-end automobile manufacturers, consisting of Ferrari, Maserati, Rolls-Royce, Cadillac, Jaguar, Volvo, Alfa Romeo, and Lancia.