Chinese auto group hires Ferrari car designer Fioravanti

MILAN, April 19 | Thu Apr 19, 2012 5:42pm BST

(Reuters) - Chinese state auto group Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co (BAIC) has deepened its ties with Leonardo Fioravanti, hiring the Italian designer of a string of Ferrari sportscars as a consultant.

"BAIC has asked Leonardo Fioravanti to personally supervise projects, as a consultant, including one advising BAIC on building its own brand," Luca Fioravanti, an executive at the family-held design house, told Reuters on Thursday.

The move highlights increasingly close links between Asian carmakers and Italian car designers. Fioravanti, the design house, formed a partnership with Shanghai-based design and engineering consultancy Eastone, and will unveil a concept car for BAIC designed with Eastone at the Bejing Motor Show next week.

reuters