by Italian design house invests $20 million in the US
Italdesign has announced plans to invest $20 million in its United States operations over the next five years. This move aims to strengthen ties with Detroit’s “Big Three” automakers — Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis.
New headquarters in Detroit
In January 2025, Italdesign announced the opening of a new US headquarters, located in Detroit. At the time, Italdesign USA CEO Fabrizio Mina noted:
Having an operational headquarters in Michigan is crucial to effectively support our American clients. This local presence allows us to respond quickly to their needs and provide personalized, high-quality services to both major industry players and startups looking to enter the automotive sector.
Now, it has become known that the company intends to go far beyond just local support.
Chasing the “Big Three”
In an interview with Car And Driver, Mina clearly outlined his vision:
Why did we choose Michigan? Because of the “Big Three.” We want to have long-term relationships with the major players.
The boutique manufacturer insists it can handle everything — from simple design assistance to full-scale production. While this sounds exciting, it’s worth slowing down a bit and considering what has changed and what has remained the same.
Investments and prospects
Italdesign plans to invest about $20 million in its US operations over the next five years. Undoubtedly, part of these funds will go toward courting the “Big Three.” However, a significant amount will simply be spent on setting up the office. At this stage, it is easy to imagine that the next De Tomaso Pantera could roll off the assembly line at Ford, GM, or Stellantis, but that is still a long way off.
A cautionary tale of the GT-R50
The last car Italdesign actually built and sold was the Nissan GT-R50 — a collaboration similar to the one the company is now pursuing with GM, Ford, and Stellantis. Initially, Italdesign and Nissan planned to produce 50 units of this sports car to celebrate its 50th anniversary. At the end of 2019, Nissan stated that demand for the car was strong, but there were still available slots for orders.
Whether due to the pandemic, parts shortages, or a seven-figure price tag for most markets, many believe that Italdesign produced only 18 or 19 GT-R50 units. In 2023, one unit was put up for auction with a starting price lower than the original. The car didn’t sell even then, which is not a good sign for Italdesign’s new collaborations.
Nevertheless, the market and industrial landscape today are drastically different. It remains to be hoped that the Italian design house can achieve a new level of success this time.
Italdesign’s history shows that even the most ambitious plans can face unexpected challenges, such as a pandemic or logistical issues. However, the modern automotive market, with its emphasis on electrification and unique design solutions, could be an ideal environment for reviving such collaborations. The $20 million investment signals Italdesign’s serious intentions, but success will depend on the company’s ability to adapt to the demands of the “Big Three” and avoid past mistakes, particularly regarding production scaling and pricing.
