Ferrari NV hired former Apple’s design chief Jony Ive to make its first electric car.
Ferrari and its parent company Exor N.V. announced Monday that they would be partnering with LoveFrom, a “collective of designers” on a multi-year collaboration that will include the brand’s first electric car.
Former Apple design chief Jony Ive and Marc Newson have been singled out as the LoveFrom designers with whom Ferrari will work. They worked together to develop the Apple Watch before leaving the silicon valley tech company.
It is his second major project since designer Ive resigned as Apple’s chief design officer in 2019 to start independent firm LoveFrom.
LoveFrom will form a “long term, multi-year collaboration” with Ferrari’s holding company Exor which could expand to other companies in the group’s portfolio.
Exor is the holding company controlled by Italy’s Agnelli family that also holds stakes in Stellantis—of which Chrysler and Fiat are part of—and the Italian soccer team Juventus F.C.
“Exor N.V. (“Exor”), the leading diversified holding company controlled by the Agnelli family, and Ferrari N.V. (“Ferrari”) announce a long term, multi-year collaboration with Sir Jony Ive and Marc Newson at the creative collective LoveFrom.” Ferrari said in a press statement on Monday.
“The first expression of this new partnership will bring together Ferrari’s legendary performance and excellence with LoveFrom’s unrivaled experience and creativity that has defined extraordinary world-changing products,” the carmaker said. Beyond the collaboration with Ferrari, LoveFrom will explore a range of creative projects with Exor in the business of luxury, it added.
Designer Jony Ive will also join Exor’s Partners Council, Ferrari said. This annual forum draws on the experience, expertise, and insights of a group of highly successful Exor friends and partners, to share ideas and explore potential business opportunities, it added.
Commenting on the LoveFrom partnership, John Elkann, Chairman and Chief Executive of Exor and Chairman of Ferrari said:
“In building great companies, we also believe in building great partnerships. Soon after LoveFrom was founded we began to talk with Jony and Marc about opportunities to combine their world-renowned creativity with ours, in complementary and incremental ways. Ferrari represents a first, exciting chance to do great things together as we build our future. I’m also delighted that Jony is joining our Partners Council where we look forward to benefitting from his uniquely valuable perspectives.”
Marc Newson and Sir Jony Ive added:
“We have been friends with John for many years and are great admirers of his insight and vision. We are thrilled to be embarking on such an important, long term collaboration with Ferrari and more broadly Exor. As Ferrari owners and collectors, we could not be more excited about collaborating with this extraordinary company and in particular with the design team expertly led by Flavio Manzoni. We see some uniquely exciting opportunities working together which we believe will yield important and valuable work.”
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