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Italdesign looking for US clients outside Volkswagen Group – report

The boss of Italdesign, the legendary design house now owned by the Volkswagen group, has gone on record saying he would like to expand the company’s clientele beyond the European giant’s umbrella.


More, he would like to extend the studio's expertise beyond the traditional automotive industry client base, eyeing the likes of Google and Apple in particular.

Speaking with industry journal Automotive News Europe, Joerg Astalosch, Italdesign CEO, said the company has become too reliant on work from the Volkswagen Group, and is now looking to target major American companies - including the two tech powerhouses, along with Tesla.

“Frankly, I would go to them,” he said, when asked what he would do if the US companies approached the firm. “It can be Tesla as well. And I think there will be many more startups, especially in America.”

Astalosch added he and his design boss Filippo Perini, a former stylist for Lamborghini, are in talks with numerous companies about creating a one-off series of Italdesign vehicles.


Above: Italdesign Giugiaro Clipper concept

While at the brand of the raging bull, Perini oversaw the creation of super-limited edition Lamborghini models including the Sesto Elemento, Veneno, and more recently the Centenario.

“Our definition of a one-off is from one to below 100 units”, Astalosch said.

The Italdesign boss wants to boost the company’s US business portfolio to bring it up to the same level as its two main markets - Europe and China.

In 2015, revenue from non-Volkswagen Group projects made up around 5.0 per cent of Italdesign’s 197 million euro sales figure.

Astalosch said his goal is to establish new cooperations outside the group with major players in all relevant markets to have a more balanced split between the company’s projects.

Italdesign now employs around 1000 staff, with its most recent project revealed at this year’s Geneva motor show - an all-electric sports car concept called the GTZero.

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