Shaping India

ITALIAN design house Pininfarina has signed an agreement to design Indian cars.

It will shape vehicles for International Cars and Motors, which is part of the Sonalika Group, India's fifth-largest tractor producer.

Pininfarina is best known for shaping showstoppers like the Ferrari 550 Barchetta and Maserati Quattroporte, but will be involved in the design of SUV and mini people-movers in India.

ICM says these two types of vehicles are the best bet for the booming Indian market because they are best able to cope with the country’s poor roads.

ICM last year introduced the Rhino-Rover, an SUV developed by MG Rover before the British company was sold to a Chinese consortium.

Pininfarina chief executive, Andrea Pininfarina, said the ICM deal represented an important step forward for the company.

“This agreement attests the great attention Pininfarina pays to the emerging Indian market in continuous growth,” he said.