California-based technology firm partners with Audi to combine AI expertise with Italian design heritage.
11 Dec 2025 | 1796 Views | By Shristi Ohri
Global transformation company UST has signed an agreement to acquire a majority stake in renowned automotive design and engineering firm Italdesign, marking a significant strategic partnership with the Audi Group.
The transaction, will see UST—headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California—take operational control of Italdesign while Automobili Lamborghini, the current parent ...
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Global transformation company UST has signed an agreement to acquire a majority stake in renowned automotive design and engineering firm Italdesign, marking a significant strategic partnership with the Audi Group.
The transaction, will see UST—headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California—take operational control of Italdesign while Automobili Lamborghini, the current parent company and part of the Audi Group, retains a significant minority stake. The deal is subject to regulatory approvals, with financial terms remaining undisclosed.
The partnership aims to merge UST's capabilities in automotive engineering, artificial intelligence, and software-defined vehicle development with Italdesign's established expertise in vehicle design, engineering, prototyping, and small series production. This combination is intended to create an integrated service offering spanning from early concept design through to production systems.
Geoffrey Bouquot, Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development at Audi, described UST as "the ideal partner to strengthen Italdesign's solid foundation while opening new market opportunities." He emphasized that Audi would remain both a strategic partner and important client of Italdesign under the new ownership structure.
UST plans to leverage its global presence across more than 30 countries to expand Italdesign's international footprint. The company has committed to honoring Italdesign's Italian heritage, design culture, and workforce while assuming operational responsibility.
Krishna Sudheendra, CEO of UST, stated that the company's role would be "to support Italdesign's vision, honor its heritage, and bring new capabilities that help the team continue to grow."
Headquartered in Moncalieri, Turin, Italdesign employs over 1,300 professionals across 10 international sites and has been operating in the automotive sector for more than 57 years. The company has created over 100 show cars and research prototypes, along with more than 300 production models throughout its history.
Antonio Casu, CEO of Italdesign, said the partnership would allow the company to accelerate expansion of its service portfolio and achieve deeper market penetration internationally. He stated that Italdesign aims to become "the first full integrator of hardware and software worldwide" in both automotive and other high-technology industrial sectors.
Italdesign has been part of the Volkswagen Group since 2010 and has served as a valued partner in Audi's development network. The Audi Group, which includes the brands Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, and Ducati, employs more than 88,000 people globally.
UST, founded in 1999, has 30,000 employees across 30 countries and specializes in AI-powered technology solutions for the automotive industry and other sectors.