(Shanghai May 24) – Famed Pininfarina designer Dimitri Vicedomini has officially taken up the position of design director at Brilliance Automotive, Economic Observer News reported today. Mr. Vicedomini has over 15 years of experience working at the Italian design firm.

Brilliance’s acquisition of Mr. Vicedomini (pictured) is only the most recent example of a domestic manufacturer managing to gain the talents of a famous international designer. Just last month, Italian Association of the Automotive Industry Car Coachbuilders Group Chairman Leonardo Fioravanti joined BAIC. Like Mr. Vicedomini, Mr. Fioravanti also worked at Pininfarina, which is best known for designing cars for Ferraris and other high-end manufacturers.

Italy’s top three design firms, Pininfarina, Italdesign Giugiaro and Bertone, have all been suffering from the world financial crisis four years ago. Italdesign was acquired by Volkswagen subsidiary Lamborghini in 2010, while Bertone had already been taken over by Fiat the previous year. The Pininfarina family, meanwhile, responded to increasing debts by yielding its 50.6 percent controlling stake in its namesake company. Several Chinese manufacturers, including Brilliance, all scrambled for the share without success.

Pininfarina has been long stolen the hearts of several Chinese manufacturers. In 1996, Heilongjiang-based Hafei Motor struck up a partnership with the firm. Pininfarina has also designed models for Brilliance, Chery and JAC.

http://autonews.gasgoo.com/china-news/italian-designer-dimitri-vicedomini-joins-brillian-120524.shtml