Paolo Pininfarina announced to succeed his late brother

These are precarious times for European design studios and coachbuilders, with some of the biggest names in the business facing potential closure. Not even Pininfarina is immune, and the storied Italian studio cannot afford to miss a beat. That's why, only days since the tragic death of its CEO Andrea Pininfarina, the company has already announced his successor.

Rather than hiring from outside, control of the carrozzeria will pass to Paolo Pininfarina, brother of the late Andrea, son of Sergio and grandson of founder Batista "Pinin" Farina. He is shown here attending the funeral for his brother that took place just yesterday. As we reported earlier today, the company is scheduled to unveil its first new vehicle since the tragedy next week at Pebble Beach: the Rolls-Royce Hyperion .

[Source: Automotive News Europe – subs. req'd, Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty]