Sergio Pininfarina, president of Pininfarina from 1966 has died at his home in Turin. He was the son of Pininfarina company founder Batista Farina, he was serving as honorary chairman of the the company at the time of his death.

Born in Turin in 1926, he studied mechanical engineering at university and rose to become General Manager of Pininfarina in 1960. In 1966, he became President on the death of his father and had been honorary chairman since 2006. He oversaw key developments at Pininfarina, such as the building of a new factory at Grugliasco, the opening of a computer design centre and a wind tunnel – and another new plant at San Giorgio Canavese.

Under his leadership, Pininfarina created some of the world's most beatiful cars, most memorably launching the Fioravanti-styled Ferrari 288GTO and F40, as well as the Enzo. Pininfarina became Ferrari's definitive design partner.

But Pininfarina also bought style to the volume car sector, taking responsibility for the Alfa Romeo 164, Peugeot 406 and Lancia Kappa – among many, many others. In 2005 he was appointed Life Senator to the Italian parliament for honouring the Country by high merits in the social field.