Autoblog

Click for more images of the Pininfarina Sintesi

Pininfarina has confirmed the three new shareholders who will take stake in the company as part of its 100 million euro capital increase. As we reported previously, Piero Ferrari, son of the late Enzo Ferrari and vice-chairman of the eponymous Maranello sportscar firm, and Alberto Bombassei, chairman of the Brembo brakes company, will take shares, in addition to the Marsiaj family at the helm of Italian seatbelt manufacturer Sabelt.

The increased capital will finance the development and production of the upscale electric minicar Pininfarina will produce together with French industrial group Bollore and Indian automaker Tata. The car is expected to begin production in 2010 with 2000 units, ramping up to a full capacity of 15,000 units by 2012 with sales in the United States, Europe and Japan. Although the size of each new shareholder's stake has yet to be confirmed, the shares will come out of the Pininfarina family's 55% ownership.

[Source: Automotive News Europe - Sub. Req.]

Pininfarina and Ferrari have had an intertwined relationship for decades, and according to a report from Reuters, the families are set to intermarry. Piero Ferrari, Enzo's son, is expected to join three other "prominent figures of the Italian automotive industry" that will take a stake in Pininfarina. The news comes shortly after Tata announced plans to throw some money into the Italian design house, which includes a 100 million euro stake in the firm. Part of that cash infusion will help to create the new electric car Pininfarina is developing with Bollore, while simultaneously reducing the shares that the Pininfarina family currently holds.

[Source: Reuters, Photo by DAMIEN MEYER/AFP/Getty]

Montezemolo, Felisa and Todt at Geneva 08. Click to view more.

Ferrari today concluded its assembly of shareholders at which Jean Todt stepped down as chief executive officer. Todt was originally hired to head the F1 racing team in 1993, was promoted to general manager of the company in 2003 and CEO in 2006. After relinquishing the role of general manager to Amedeo Felisa in 2006, Todt handed over control of the Scuderia to Stefano Domenicali at the start of this year.

Felisa will now also succeed Todt as CEO. Meanwhile Todt will stay on in certain limited capacities for Ferrari, including a seat on the board, the presidency of both Ferrari Asia Pacific and Ferrari West Europe as well as representation of the Scuderia on the FIA World Council. Todt announced that he had stayed on as chief executive only until company president Luca di Montezemolo completed his term as head of industrial group Confindustria, and that he was now moving on to dedicate more time to himself and his other interests. The shareholders also re-elected Montzemolo as president and Piero Ferrari as vice-president, while renewing the terms of all 13 directors, including Montzemolo, Ferrari, Todt and Felisa as well as Fiat chief Sergio Marchionne, Sergio Pininfarina and seven other board members. For more information, see the press release after the jump.

[Source: Ferrari]