UST has completed the acquisition of a majority stake in Italdesign from the Audi Group, bringing the Italian automotive design and engineering company under UST’s ownership. The transaction combines Italdesign’s design and vehicle engineering capabilities with UST’s automotive engineering, artificial intelligence (AI), software-defined vehicle and digital ecosystem expertise.
The companies said the combination is intended to help automotive manufacturers address the increasing complexity of next-generation vehicles and mobility products, with capabilities spanning design, engineering, software and AI from concept through production.
Italdesign will continue to operate under its existing name and retain its values and distinctive competencies, while gaining access to UST’s global scale, digital engineering capabilities, AI expertise and client relationships.
UST And Italdesign Combine Automotive Design And AI Capabilities
UST said the partnership is aimed at bringing together vehicle design and engineering with software and AI capabilities as the automotive industry moves towards software-defined, AI-enabled and increasingly connected vehicles. The companies intend to support manufacturers in developing connected products and accelerating the transition from concept to production.
Vijay Padmanabhan, chief financial officer, UST, said the company’s investment in Italdesign was driven by its people, heritage and ability to translate vehicle concepts into products. He said the combination with UST’s digital engineering, AI and technology transformation capabilities would create a platform focused on future mobility applications.
Gilroy Mathew, chief operating officer, UST, said automotive customers are increasingly looking for partners that can integrate design, engineering, software and AI. He said the combined capabilities are intended to help customers move from concept to production while retaining Italdesign’s design and engineering approach.
Italdesign To Retain Existing Operations
Antonio Casu, chief executive officer, Italdesign, said the company will continue operating as Italdesign, with its existing values and multidisciplinary approach. He added that the company will benefit from UST’s global scale and capabilities in digital engineering and AI, as well as its international client relationships.
Italdesign has nearly 60 years of experience in automotive design, vehicle engineering and product development. Headquartered in Moncalieri, Turin, it has more than 1,300 professionals across 10 international locations and provides vertically integrated services from concept design to limited and ultra-limited series production. Its capabilities also cover electronics, digitalisation and new forms of mobility.
UST, headquartered in the US, has more than 30,000 employees across more than 30 countries. The company operates across AI-driven digital solutions, engineering, R&D, products and technology transformation.