- The first set of outcome to this collaboration is expected to arrive by the second quarter of 2019.
- The partnership was announced during the Automotive News World Congress.
Karma Automotive, the resurrected automaker now owned by a Chinese company, Wanxiang Group, has entered into a partnership with Italian design house, Pininfarina. The announcement was made at the inaugural Automotive News World Congress in China. Although both brands haven’t divulged any details about the product yet, the first results of their tie-up are expected to be revealed by the second quarter of 2019.
Mahindra-owned Pininfarina will provide the California-based carmaker with key technologies in the field of connectivity, performance, artificial intelligence, shared mobility platforms and electrification.
This partnership is touted to be a part of Karma's latest 'Value-forward'Mahindra-owned business strategy. The goal of this collaboration is to solidify and grow Karma’s position in the unique niche market of luxury electric vehicles, first in the U.S. and then in other international markets, maintains Dr Lance Zhou, CEO, Karma.
Commenting on the partnership, Silvio Pietro Angori, CEO, Pininfarina, said, “The agreement with Karma represents another important step in the growth strategy of Pininfarina in the North American market, following the opening of our new design centre in Los Angeles. We are happy to support Karma through our expertise into the design and creation of luxury, customized vehicles, and into a premium brand lifestyle. With Karma, we share the same passion for beauty, exclusivity and innovation, always in the name of environmental sustainability. We can’t wait to show the world the first fruit of our joint effort”.
This is second such partnership the Italian design house has entered in after the tie-up with Croatian supercar maker, Rimac. With Rimac – one of the world’s leading names in electric car powertrains – Pininfarina plans to develop their upcoming Battista hypercar. Previously called the PF0, the Battista will arrive this year with power figures of 1900bhp and 2300Nm, 0-100kmph time of ‘under two seconds’, a top speed of 400kmph and an electrical range of 450km.
