Dave Amantea.

Hi! My name is Dave Amantea. I was born and raised in Turin, Italy—the city where Pininfarina has its roots. I pursued my studies as a specialized mechanical expert at the Pininfarina Technical Academy. Growing up with a passion for cars and design, I began my career in 2000 as a painter and modeler at a renowned coachbuilder in Turin. In 2005, I transitioned into a design role, even though I completed my degree in Transportation Design only in 2006.

I took my first steps at the FIAT Group, a multi-brand giant that gave me the opportunity to design for many brands. I started in the advanced design team on projects like the Fiat 500 and Fiat 500 Abarth, later working on the Alfa Romeo 4C Concept and eventually Maserati.

I then moved to the Volkswagen Group at Italdesign Giugiaro, a key satellite within the multi-brand group, where I grew into the role of Design Manager. There, I led numerous teams and projects across various brands, most notably Audi, Bentley (Bentayga), VW, and SEAT. I also participated in projects for Lamborghini, as well as all IDG-branded show cars for Giugiaro and Walter de Silva.

Later, I moved to the UK to join Jaguar Land Rover, working under Massimo Frascella and Jerry McGovern as part of the creative team. I contributed to many projects, including the Defender. After extensive experience with premium and luxury brands, I relocated to Munich, Germany, to work for NIO, an EV company rivaling Tesla. There, I focused on design strategy and gained invaluable experience in brand creation.

Since 2018, I have been with Automobili Pininfarina—initially as Exterior Design Director, and since 2022, as Chief Design Officer. I have been involved in all Battista projects and contributed to the creation of the vision represented by PURA Vision and B95, including all one-offs derived from the Battista platform.

Back in the day, when I was 8 years old, I was with my father in Piazza San Carlo in Turin. On Sundays, collectors would gather there to showcase their supercars and classic cars. It was there that I saw a Ferrari Testarossa up close for the first time.

Hearing its roar and admiring its design, I noticed the Pininfarina logo on its side. I asked my father about it, and he explained that the design of Ferraris was crafted by the Pininfarina family. It was love at first sight—and from that moment, my dream of becoming a designer was born!

I am very proud of my journey in the world of automotive design. I’ve climbed the ranks by taking all the necessary steps and have worked with major multi-brand companies such as Italdesign Giugiaro.

My career has taken me across Italy, Germany, the UK, the USA, and back to Italy. I’ve always been proactive and curious—qualities that have led me to participate in numerous projects and gain extensive experience. Having mentors like Giugiaro and Walter De Silva has greatly contributed to my growth.

Currently, I hold the position of Chief Design Officer and serve as a board member of the company. My role involves bringing design insight into the management team even before an initiative takes shape.

This requires a visionary CEO, and the synergy within a design-driven company is essential. I focus on the business—specifically the design business—with my top priority being to set a vision and create a design strategy built on a strong design DNA.

I lead an incredible team of professionals who are my greatest strength. It is thanks to them that I’m able to shine, and I’m proud to represent them. For me, Automobili Pininfarina is not just a job—it’s a true life challenge, unique in its kind. Our aim is to make Automobili Pininfarina the most attractive luxury brand made in Italy, crafted through design.

We began with the Battista, the most powerful Italian pure-electric hyper GT in the world. With it, we sent two clear messages: first, that an electric vehicle can be beautiful; and second, that Automobili Pininfarina is the realization of our founder Battista’s dream. We are a carmaker with the family logo not only on the side, but proudly at the center of the hood.

After six years of development, we’ve created an extraordinary car with astonishing performance—one that has converted even the most skeptical. We’ve inspired collectors, gathered millions of valuable data points, streamlined our systems, and expanded our dealer network. In doing so, we’ve built a community of true design connoisseurs.

Today, we are ready for the next leap—selecting powertrains based on customer preferences and increasing volumes, all while staying true to the essence of luxury.

We are building the future and aspire to define the future of luxury, crafted with passion in Italy. Pininfarina has an extraordinary heritage—the greatest in the world—and its legacy is poised to evolve for the next 100 years. We are ready to turn our customers’ dreams into reality.

Design is everything. My job is my hobby, my passion, and my joy. I love diving into projects and the stories behind them—each one becoming a true chapter of my life. I like to believe that the best project is always the one that's about to begin. It’s like falling in love every time, as if it were the first time. This incredible passion becomes even more meaningful when shared with others—working in teams, creating powerful stories through thoughtful design that moves and excites our clients.

I enjoy working on everything. Cars hold a deep personal significance for me, rooted in my Italian and Turin heritage—but I love designing anything and everything with passion. One area I haven’t yet explored, but which remains a big dream of mine, is designing for Hollywood films. My idols include Daniel Simon, Ryan Church, and Syd Mead.

I’m fascinated by the creative process, where you must invent or solve something in order to create emotion. This is my obsession.

For me, good design is something that resonates personally. However, great design appeals to many and becomes an icon, which is what we all aspire to achieve. I hope to create something that leaves a mark, almost capturing a piece of immortality. While I may not save lives with design, I can evoke emotions in people.

Good design is born when style and purpose are united with intent. It should enable clients to feel emotions, making the design something truly special.

I enjoy sharing a vision that takes many factors into account, and I have developed a method that helps me create a strong vision. Designing for a brand like Automobili Pininfarina, with its 95-year heritage, requires respecting this rich history.

That’s why we strive to be simple, pure, consistent, elegant yet sporty, with a strong character—but without unnecessary opulence. For all of this, I am fortunate to have an incredibly strong team and a rich heritage to draw from.

I strive to create a strong vision that must be absorbed, elaborated upon, or improved by the team. Initially, I spend a lot of time understanding exactly what the goal or challenge is. In our case, I place the customer at the center of my thoughts. We then begin a series of tasks that allow the exterior, interior, and CMF teams to correctly visualize the mission and vision they should refer to.

I enjoy using a mix of old and new techniques, giving creatives the freedom to use their preferred representation methods. The first part is instinctive, using paper and pen, but we are also very strong in using software that allows us to sculpt volumes with the same freedom.

Next comes a pre-selection phase, where I prefer to identify what is wrong rather than focusing on what is right. This helps me reduce risk by 50%. I encourage creatives to draw everything without fear—especially things that are not immediately beautiful, as this fosters innovation and prevents us from repeating the same ideas.

Here, I diversify the research, ensuring that proposals do not all go in the same direction, experimenting with different inputs to optimize the search.

After the instinctive phase, I take a step back in time and request a technical drawing of the car to observe the architecture and proportions at a 1:10 scale. Giugiaro taught me, “If the car looks good in technical view, it works in reality.” This involves meticulous work on refining the volumes.

Once the car is well set on its wheels, the second creative phase begins, focusing on style refinement and obsessively perfecting the details.

Absolutely! I am fortunate to have been born in Italy, specifically in Turin, a city with a deeply rooted culture of design, cars, and luxury. We are a nation that thrives on passion.

First and foremost, we are deeply honored by this recognition and immensely proud of it. It is a reward that recognizes our herculean effort and dedication. Automobili Pininfarina has a long tradition in design, and as a design-driven company, receiving such accolades elevates our brand and sets us apart from others.

This is due to our history, our ability to innovate, and our incredible continuity in design for nearly 100 years.

The B95, which stands for Barchetta 95, is a tribute to the 95th anniversary of Pininfarina. Paolo Pininfarina, who sadly passed away in 2024, was extremely enthusiastic and proud of this project and its design. It is a tribute to the courage to innovate, and, as our founder Battista said, "above all, it must be beautiful."

The B95 is the first pure-electric barchetta ever made, and it is crafted in Italy. This project is not just a car; it is a product that symbolizes a significant milestone for the remarkable Pininfarina family. The NY Product Design Award is highly relevant, and we have a strong connection to the USA and New York. The only car permanently exhibited in MoMA is the Cisitalia, designed by Pininfarina in 1947. Our dream is to create another icon like that again!

There are many challenges because when you create something without competitors, it seems very easy but is incredibly difficult. I always think that innovating, whether a little or a lot, is an act of courage.

For example, it is much more difficult to be the leader in F1, setting lap times and maintaining strategy during a race without any reference points, considering that you are competing against yourself. Mentally, it is more stressful and difficult than having a reference point, and often, if underestimated, this moment becomes a problem.

Recently, I have seen design strategies aimed at being disruptive. As a designer, I admire them and always try to learn from them. However, there are brands or situations where it doesn't make sense or represents the easier path. I believe that innovating with sophistication is more challenging than breaking the mold, but there is no wrong strategy if you ultimately win.

The biggest challenge at Automobili Pininfarina is having managed to create a strong, unique spirit with an impressive heritage, which I consider the greatest in the world of design. We are doing it gradually, with humility but with determination, hoping to make as few mistakes as possible and to excite car enthusiasts.

We must be Italian, simple, pure, consistent, elegant, and sporty; beautiful and decisive, but also casual and, in the right doses, nonconformist. This is what we define as irreverent Italian luxury, and it is the most difficult thing to achieve without losing or dishonoring the past while looking to the future.

For me, it is always a starting point, not a destination. Additionally, I represent a team of professionals who work together to achieve prestigious milestones like this. Personally, it is gratifying when experts recognize your work with an award. The feelings of happiness and satisfaction are immense, as they acknowledge the many sacrifices and efforts made.

1. Absolutely, creativity is a never-ending journey. It's a continuous process of exploration and innovation.

Each project is a new adventure, a fresh opportunity to push boundaries and create something extraordinary. This relentless pursuit of creativity keeps the passion alive and drives us to achieve greatness.

2. The opportunity to create something that can be remembered by customers and become iconic is truly special. Timeless design is the only way to conquer the one factor humanity cannot defeat: time. A design that stands the test of time is forever, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to inspire and captivate.

3. It keeps you young and always propels you into the future. Yet, you must always study the past, and this is a magical aspect of the world of design. Balancing the wisdom of history with the innovation of the future creates a dynamic and timeless design process.

This blend of past and future fuels creativity and ensures our work remains relevant and inspiring.

Italy is a country that thrives on emotions and passions, making everything a personal matter. We pour our hearts and souls into what we do. Turin, in particular, is a hub of automotive culture, design, luxury, and taste—an explosive mix unique in the world.

It is a timeless city that leaves its mark discreetly yet profoundly. Piedmont’s rich history fosters a strong cultural foundation, helping us grow with a deep appreciation for our heritage.

Design is constantly evolving and becoming increasingly dominant in the industry because it connects the customer to the product, translating it into brand identity. Today, people buy the meaning behind the brand, which is reflected in the product, and design is the most powerful factor influencing the market.

Even in fields where design was once secondary, it now plays a significant role that strongly impacts outcomes. Positions like Chief Design Officer will undoubtedly become more common in all management teams. It is vital for the future to consider creativity from the very beginning.

Never fall in love with your first design; always be self-critical. At Automobili Pininfarina, we like to say, good enough is not enough. Believe strongly in your dreams and work hard to achieve them. Make mistakes because that's the only way to improve. Learn from them and start over. Never give up.

Be curious, learn everything, and be open to learning from others in areas where we may not excel. Acknowledge your limits and collaborate with a team to perfect the work. Remember, the shortest path is not the one that leads to success; it requires dedication and sacrifice.

I have tried to learn the craft from all my colleagues and bosses. My curiosity and passion have helped me accept my limits and have provided me with the means to overcome some of them. I can certainly name a few professionals who have truly shaped my knowledge: Giugiaro and Walter De Silva are definitely my main points of reference.

Sports have taught me a lot, both directly and indirectly. I have absorbed every word and gesture like a sponge. They have helped me understand the importance of the tradition of car design, as well as the need to approach a project from a 360-degree perspective.

When I was a young designer struggling to reach the next level, my wife gave me a painting. I was doing good work, but I wanted more. That painting, which I still have in my studio today, has become my mantra.