Andrea Pininfarina dies in traffic accident

Andrea Pininfarina, Chief Executive Officer of the coachbuilding firm that bears his name, died in a moped accident in Turin this morning. He was 51.

The accident took place on via Turin, the gateway to the Italian city, when a car crossed Pininfarina's path just before 8am. According to accounts, Pininfarina was riding his Vespa when a Ford Fiesta driven by a 78 year old man darted out from a road to the right. His view was obstructed by a truck parked on the side of the road, resulting in the violent impact. He died of the resulting injuries. 

It is believed he was on his way to the company's research and design facility in Cambiano, not far from the municipality of Trofarello where the accident occurred.

"The best way to honor my brother's memory is to continue to pursue with undiminished strength and determination the path that he had chosen for the company," said Paolo Pininfarina, Deputy Chairman of Pininfarina S.p.A.

The grandson of Pininfarina S.p.A. founder Battista 'Pinin' Farina, Andrea Pininfarina graduated from the Polytechnic of Turin with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1981 and began his career at Freuehauf Corp. in 1982. A year later he joined the family business, first as coordinator and then as Program Manager of the Cadillac Allanté project.

Appointed General Manager of Pininfarina S.p.A. in 1988, the entrepreneur became Managing Director in 1994. Pininfarina had been Chief Executive Officer since 2001 and a Chairman of the Board of Directors since 2006.

Pininfarina is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.

By Eric Gallina