The Pininfarina B0 could be definitively cancelled on 31 December if Pininfarina is sold

The highly promising urban electric car that Pininfarina is developing together with the French group Bolloré could be at risk if the renowned designer exercises the option to sell its stake in the joint project with the French company.

According to the contract signed with Bolloré, Pininfarina has the option to sell its stake for 10 million euros, with a deadline between 1 March 2011 and 15 March 2013. In fact, Pininfarina had reportedly already entered into negotiations some time ago, due to certain disagreements with Bolloré over subsidies for electric vehicles in France and Italy. But if Pininfarina is sold, the B0 would become history almost before it was born.

And that abrupt end for the small urban electric car could come much sooner than expected, since on 31 December, Pininfarina may legally withdraw from the project if the design house is bought by a third party. This is something that has been pursued for some time through the Italian courts, given the liquidity problems of the Turin-based firm.

A shame, since the B0 showed great promise. With the project well advanced, and even prototype batteries manufactured by Bolloré already available, the B0 was one of the few affordable electric cars for the average person, with a projected leasing cost of 330 euros per month.

Source | Autoblog Green