Italy and Detroit may be separated by 4500 miles, but both places have always shared a passion for all things automotive. The 1960s and '70s even saw a wave of cars, like the De Tomaso Pantera, that paired Italian bodywork with American engines. Now, the bond between Detroit and Italy is deepening, with the legendary design firm Italdesign injecting $20 million into its U.S. operations over a five-year period as it hopes to form a closer relationship with American automakers.
Italdesign, founded in 1968 by legendary designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, opened a U.S. office in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, in 2024, and wants its facility to serve as a one-stop shop for the needs of American automakers. While the company's name does include the word "design," Italdesign says its expertise expands far beyond penning the eye-catching show cars that it's known for.
