Based in Turin, the company was founded in 1968 by design icon Giorgetto Giugiaro and is responsible for some equally iconic cars, including the DMC DeLorean, Lotus Esprit, and the original Volkswagen Golf, to name just a few. Now, the company has a new owner.
Volkswagen Group, through its Audi subsidiary, has held a controlling stake in Italdesign since 2010, when Giugiaro decided to sell most of his shares. He fully severed ties in 2015, leaving to start a new design venture, GFG Style, with his son. Now, Audi has announced it is selling its controlling stake to UST, a California-based company specializing in AI-powered automotive engineering, including software-defined vehicles and digital ecosystems.
Helping Italdesign Grow
As digital technology continues to play a larger role in vehicle development, UST’s takeover is expected to help Italdesign expand its traditional design operations and add new services, attracting fresh customers. According to Italdesign CEO Antonio Casu, the company aims to be among the first to develop hardware and software fully in-house. The goal is to deliver car designs with all the necessary digital elements built right in, though Casu also sees applications beyond the auto industry.
Even before the sale, Italdesign was already moving into new markets. Last year, it established a US headquarters in Bloomfield Township, part of the greater Metro Detroit area.
Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but Audi noted that Lamborghini – also under its control – will retain its stake in Italdesign. This means Audi will remain connected to Italdesign and continue to use its services.
Italdesign Hardly Struggling
Several Volkswagen Group brands have been restructuring to reduce costs, including Audi which recently revealed plans for job cuts, as well as the closure of a factory that has produced VWs and Audis since 1954. However, far from being a drain on the Volkswagen Group, Italdesign is thriving. The company employs over 1,300 people and posted record revenue last year of €332 million (about $388 million).
Its core business remains designing concepts and production models for automakers around the world, though in recent years it has also begun producing some low-volume cars under its own brand, like the Audi R8-based Zerouno. It has also expanded its coachbuilding operations, which in just a few weeks will unveil a Honda NSX-based car at the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon.
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