'You Are Driving On Some Heavenly Highway': Anand Mahindra's Tribute Post For Auto Mogul Paolo Pininfarina

Industrialist Anand Mahindra has shared a social media post to pay tributes to Italian auto mogul Paolo Pininfarina who passed away on April 9 after prolonged illness. Mahindra shared photos of himself with the late automobile designer and engineer. Paolo Pininfarina was the heir and manager of the Italian car design firm Pininfarina, which is credited with making designs for brands like Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and Peugeot. Paolo Pininfarina remained Chairman of Pininfarina till his death. Anand Mahindra developed a close working relationship with Paolo Pininfarina after Mahindra Group acquired the Pininfarina company in 2015.

In a tribute to his friend and business associate, Mahindra recalled how he tried to convince Paolo Pininfarina when Mahindra Group was bidding to acquire Pininfarina’s design company. The chairman of Mahindra Group wrote, “When we were bidding to acquire his flagship design company, we told Paolo that our goal was to turn his grandfather Battista’s dream of producing a car under his own family name into reality.”

After acquiring Pininfarina, Mahindra and Paolo Pininfarina worked together to design an electric hypercar which was ultimately named the Pininfarina Battista electric hypercar, after the company’s founder Battista Pininfarina. Mahindra said that they will feel the loss of Paolo Pininfarina’s guidance and his “strong design sensibilities.” He wrote, “Paolo, I know you are driving on some heavenly highway, towards your grandfather, who will tell you how proud of you he is.”

This post has over one lakh likes and thousands of likes. Commenting on it, an X user wrote, “Such sad news about Paolo Pininfarina. His family’s design influence will live on. My heart goes out to them.” Another person wrote, “Sir, a friend never passes away, but lives forever in the heart of his friend. He’ll dwell eternally in memories you created together. Even in silence, there’s a song which plays to the melody of life lived…may he smile from his heavenly abode to all who fondly remember him.”

The Pininfarina Battista electric hypercar was unveiled at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. The supercar has a top speed of 358 kilometres per hour. It has four electric motors which can accelerate its speed from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just under two seconds. The Pininfarina Battista is believed to be one of the most expensive cars ever shown in India, with a price tag of Rs 20 crore. It was first displayed in India at the Greenko Hyderabad E-Prix on February 11, 2023.