Latest news with #Elkann
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How Blu Scarpa Plans to Scale With The Help of Fiat Heir Lapo Elkann
Fiat heir Lapo Elkann is stepping into the footwear world with a new investment. This month, the great-grandson of Fiat founder Giovanni Agnelli became a minority investor in Miami-based luxury footwear brand Blu Scarpa. While terms of the deal were not disclosed, the new partnership was unveiled at Milan Men's Fashion Week this month at the shoe brand's spring/summer 2026 collection presentation. More from WWD Global Beauty Giants' Early Bets on the Eastern Fragrance Wave Tom Brady Laces Up Travis Scott Jordans in Venice Ahead of Jeff Bezos' and Lauren Sánchez's Wedding Ace Bailey Coordinates Christian Louboutin Shoes With His Family at NBA Draft Day One Matthew Chevallard, founder and creative director of Blu Scarpa, said that Elkann's new partnership will allow the company to scale outside of its Miami home. 'Lapo has believed in me and supported me throughout my footwear journey, and now with this investment, it will allow me to embark on a new chapter,' Chevallard told FN in an interview. 'Bringing Lapo on as a partner will allow us a little more wind in our sails to still be very independent, but obviously, have a slightly more resources to compete.' The executive noted that since the company launched in 2019, he has built a solid foundation in Miami through the company's own store in the Design District. 'Now we're moving outside of that micro mentality,' Chevallard noted. 'We now want to move into more conventional practices like expanding wholesale and amplifying our messaging to a wider audience.' Blu Scarpa sells to The Webster as well as Level Shoes in Dubai. 'We are working on expanding out relationship with Level, especially since they are slated to open their first U.S. store here in Miami in a few years.' (Level has not confirmed the opening.) Chevallard is no stranger to the footwear industry. Much of his entrepreneurial spirit is expressed through footwear, starting with the luxury men's slipper brand Del Toro that he co-founded in 2005. Now, with Blu Scarpa, Chevallard is focusing in on Italian craftsmanship that takes inspiration from the golden age of 1980s and '90s Italian lifestyle and artistic icons such as Lucio Fontana, Georgia O'Keeffe, Donald Judd, and Yves Klein. For spring/summer 2026, the collection has expanding into the realm of soccer, showcasing a new silhouette alongside new iterations of the brands core models. The offering is made up of five distinct capsules, with prices ranging $475 to $535. A highlight of the new offering includes the 2.0 Blu Palm shoe, which is described as a continuation of the Blu Palm concept in suede and nylon, originally launched in collaboration with Elkann and Chevallard. Another highlight is the aforementioned Soccer Collezione, which is inspired by 1980s–1990s soccer sportswear. The line introduces a brand-new suede and leather silhouette that brings soccer into Blu Scarpa's running and tennis-focused sportswear realm. Best of WWD All the Retailers That Nike Left and Then Went Back Mikey Madison's Elegant Red Carpet Shoe Style [PHOTOS] Julia Fox's Sleekest and Boldest Shoe Looks Over the Years [Photos]
Straits Times
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Ferrari unveils Hypersail project led by Soldini
FILE PHOTO: The logo of Ferrari is seen in the headquarters, in Maranello, Italy, June 15, 2022. Picture taken June 15, 2022. REUTERS/Flavio Lo Scalzo MARANELLO, Italy - Ferrari announced its entry into the world of sailing on Wednesday with a Hypersail project led by Italian yachtsman Giovanni Soldini that it said would blend racing tradition with technological innovation. The world's first 100-foot monohull ocean racing yacht with a foil on the keel has been designed by French naval architect Guillaume Verdier and is being built at an undisclosed location in Italy with a launch scheduled for 2026. "It perfectly aligns with Ferrari's tradition, drawing inspiration from our Hypercar, three-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans," said Ferrari Chairman John Elkann. "Designing a yacht for offshore racing is perhaps the ultimate expression of endurance. Ferrari are Formula One's most glamorous and historic team, present since the start of the championship in 1950, but their more recent success has been at Le Mans where they have won the last three editions. Ferrari said the prototype yacht would have three points of contact to stabilise its flight, including a canting keel to support one of the foils, and would also be the first in the world to be entirely energy self-sufficient. Elkann ruled out any involvement in an America's Cup challenge, with the 2027 edition to be held in the southern city of Naples. "(The) America's Cup is regulated and this boat is thought to go beyond rules," he said. "This project gives us the chance to experiment in new areas." Ferrari gave no details about how much the project would cost, but Chief Financial Officer Antonio Picca Piccon said the investment was planned and there would be no substantial impact on capital expenditure. "The boat will be launched next year and then we'll start a debugging phase which will hopefully last a short time," Soldini told a news conference at Ferrari's Maranello headquarters. "It's obvious that we have quite a defined (time) goal, but the project is so complex that making it public today doesn't seem very wise. "There are a thousand things to put together. We'll definitely put the boat in the water in 2026 but I'm not making any commitments about what quarter." Soldini, a veteran of more than 30 years of solo and crewed ocean competition including two solo round-the-world races, said the aim was to keep the crew as small as possible -- somewhere between eight and 12. Ferrari said 20 people were working full time on the project, with another 80-90 involved, and there would be some technology transfer from the sportscar side -- mostly the F80 supercar unveiled last October. Neither Elkann nor Soldini were forthcoming about what competitions the flying monohull might enter. "Before setting sport (competition) targets, we want to finish what we're doing, developing the boat and bring it to sea. Then we'll see what we can and cannot do," said Soldini. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Star
Sailing-Ferrari unveils Hypersail project led by Soldini
FILE PHOTO: The logo of Ferrari is seen in the headquarters, in Maranello, Italy, June 15, 2022. Picture taken June 15, 2022. REUTERS/Flavio Lo Scalzo MARANELLO, Italy (Reuters) -Ferrari announced its entry into the world of sailing on Wednesday with a Hypersail project led by Italian yachtsman Giovanni Soldini that it said would blend racing tradition with technological innovation. The world's first 100-foot monohull ocean racing yacht with a foil on the keel has been designed by French naval architect Guillaume Verdier and is being built at an undisclosed location in Italy with a launch scheduled for 2026. "It perfectly aligns with Ferrari's tradition, drawing inspiration from our Hypercar, three-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans," said Ferrari Chairman John Elkann. "Designing a yacht for offshore racing is perhaps the ultimate expression of endurance. Ferrari are Formula One's most glamorous and historic team, present since the start of the championship in 1950, but their more recent success has been at Le Mans where they have won the last three editions. Ferrari said the prototype yacht would have three points of contact to stabilise its flight, including a canting keel to support one of the foils, and would also be the first in the world to be entirely energy self-sufficient. Elkann ruled out any involvement in an America's Cup challenge, with the 2027 edition to be held in the southern city of Naples. "(The) America's Cup is regulated and this boat is thought to go beyond rules," he said. "This project gives us the chance to experiment in new areas." Ferrari gave no details about how much the project would cost, but Chief Financial Officer Antonio Picca Piccon said the investment was planned and there would be no substantial impact on capital expenditure. "The boat will be launched next year and then we'll start a debugging phase which will hopefully last a short time," Soldini told a news conference at Ferrari's Maranello headquarters. "It's obvious that we have quite a defined (time) goal, but the project is so complex that making it public today doesn't seem very wise. "There are a thousand things to put together. We'll definitely put the boat in the water in 2026 but I'm not making any commitments about what quarter." Soldini, a veteran of more than 30 years of solo and crewed ocean competition including two solo round-the-world races, said the aim was to keep the crew as small as possible -- somewhere between eight and 12. Ferrari said 20 people were working full time on the project, with another 80-90 involved, and there would be some technology transfer from the sportscar side -- mostly the F80 supercar unveiled last October. Neither Elkann nor Soldini were forthcoming about what competitions the flying monohull might enter. "Before setting sport (competition) targets, we want to finish what we're doing, developing the boat and bring it to sea. Then we'll see what we can and cannot do," said Soldini. (Reporting by Giulio Piovaccari, writing by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Ken Ferris)
Motor 1
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Regulatory Work Eats 25% of Stellantis Engineering Hours
It's not easy being an automotive engineer tasked with developing a new car for the European market. The EU undoubtedly has the strictest legislation in terms of emissions, noise, safety, and other criteria. These higher standards not only drive up prices but also consume a significant portion of engineering time. Stellantis Chairman John Elkann told Automotive News Europe that an engineer working at one of the largest automotive conglomerates spends more than a quarter of their time solely on ensuring compliance with the EU's stringent regulations: 'If you look at our engineers, more than 25 percent just work on compliance, so no value is added.' Upcoming Fiat 500 with gas engine Photo by: Fiat And it's only going to get worse. Elkann, who also chairs Ferrari , says cars sold in Europe will need to meet more than 120 new regulations by the end of the decade. The most daunting challenge is reducing fleet emissions. The 93.6 g/km average for 2025 to 2029 is already 15% lower than the previous standard. For the 2030-2034 period, that figure will have to drop further to just 49.5 g/km. Starting in 2035, new cars sold in Europe won't be allowed to produce harmful emissions, effectively banning the use of combustion engines. We've recently mourned the loss of many fun cars in Europe due to tighter regulations, but the impact reaches far beyond sports cars. Elkann argues that small vehicles are also being squeezed out as rising prices, driven by costly regulatory compliance, make them less viable. The Volkswagen Group stopped making the VW up!, Skoda Citigo, and the SEAT Mii years ago. He noted that more than one million vehicles priced under €15,000 were sold in Europe in 2019, but that number has since plummeted to around 100,000. His solution? The EU should take inspiration from Japan's kei cars and introduce a European equivalent: 'There's no reason why if Japan has a kei car, which is 40 percent of the market, Europe should not have an E-Car.' Earlier this year, former Renault CEO Luca de Meo also emphasized the need for smaller cars, stating: 'Driving around every day in an electric vehicle weighing 2.5 tons [5,551 pounds] is clearly an environmental nonsense.' Dacia Sandero Stepway Photo by: Motor1 Despite the growing popularity of crossovers, there's still a clear demand for smaller, lighter vehicles in Europe. Renault's budget brand Dacia is thriving with its no-frills lineup that's both lightweight and affordable. According to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), Dacia held a 5.1% market share through April, thanks in part to the success of the Sandero supermini. While Dacia does sell SUVs like the Duster and Bigster, even the heaviest configuration of the latter weighs only about 1,400 kilograms (3,086 pounds). Excessive bureaucracy is undermining affordability and could backfire on Europe's push for electrification. Making new cars more expensive risks encouraging people to keep their older, more polluting vehicles. Loosening regulations on small cars, similar to Japan's kei car approach, could give automakers the flexibility to build cheaper, more efficient models. Will that happen? Given the EU's tendency to tighten the rulebook, it seems unlikely. Catch Up With Stellantis: Stellantis Will 'Experiment' With Chrysler to Fill The Gaps Stellantis Has Finally Replaced Carlos Tavares Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Source: Automotive News Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Miami Herald
14-06-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Stellantis Exec Wants Europe to Adopt Cheap, Tiny, Japanese-Style Kei Cars
Though it may seem different today, more than half a century ago, American and European drivers were not as familiar with Japanese automakers and the types of cars they offered. Today, well-known Japanese brands like Honda, Toyota, and Nissan are primarily recognized in the West for their locally built compact cars, sedans, crossovers, SUVs, and pickup trucks. However, the situation is quite different in Japan. In fact, the majority of vehicles on the streets in Japan are not Accords, Civics, CR-Vs, Corollas, Crowns, or Camrys; instead, many fall under a category of super-compact vehicles known as "Kei cars." These unique compact vehicles are an essential mobility solution for Japanese drivers navigating their roads, but recently, Stellantis Chairman John Elkann encouraged European regulators to consider adopting a similar concept. On June 12, Stellantis Chairman John Elkann emphasized the urgent need for Europe to innovate and produce smaller, more affordable vehicles in the same vein as Japanese 'kei cars.' He pointed out that the high prices of current offerings, which he blamed squarely on excessively strict vehicle regulations, are hurting consumer demand for cars on the continent. During his remarks at the 2025 Automotive News Europe Congress, he pointed out that as recently as 2019, nearly 50 different models were sold in Europe with a price tag below €15,000 ($17,400); however, just a single model under that price tag exists these days. Elkann suggested that Europe should look for inspiration from Japan, where tiny and cheap kei cars have long captured a significant market share. He even proposed that Europe's version of the kei car could be named the E-Car. "There's no reason why, if Japan has a kei car, which is 40 percent of the market, Europe should not have an E-Car," Elkann said. In Europe, Stellantis already sells electric microcars that are classified as quadricycles in some European countries, specifically the bubble-shaped Citroën Ami, Opel Rocks-e, and Fiat Topolino. These vehicles' sales in Europe show a strong market for affordable electric mobility. However, a large variety of cars are offered as kei-compliant vehicles in Japan, including off-roaders like the Japanese-market Suzuki Jimny, roadsters like the Daihatsu Copen, family cars like the Honda N-Box, and even utility-focused kei trucks like the Mitsubishi Minicab. The 'Kei' in Kei car is short for a Japanese word called kei-jidōsha (軽自動車), which roughly translates to "light vehicle" in English. Kei cars are defined by maximum size and displacement restrictions, meaning they are only allowed to have a maximum length of about 134 inches, a width of about 58 inches, a height of about 79 inches, and a gas engine displacement of 660 cubic centimeters. In Japan, Kei cars are seen as around-town vehicles for city-dwellers, as their size and engine restrictions help owners by guaranteeing much lower tax and insurance costs while freeing up much-needed road space. Elkann emphasized that small cars, like Stellantis's own Fiat 500, have historically represented the core of the European automotive industry and served as a symbol of affordable mobility for the masses. Unfortunately, increasing regulations that made cars heavier and more expensive have made them unprofitable to manufacture. Some of the requirements for cars, ranging from small vehicles to SUVs, include safety features such as sensors that detect when a driver falls asleep and an SOS button. Elkann argues that features significantly increase the cost of vehicles primarily used for short city journeys. "We are going to face more than 120 new regulations by 2030" in Europe, he said. "If you look at our engineers, more than 25 percent just work on compliance, so no value is added." Though the buying preferences of the American car-buying public may indicate that no Fiat, Citroën, or Alfa Romeo-branded European E-cars would make it on American shores, this story out of Europe shows that Stellantis is facing two different kinds of problems on two different continents with huge car-buying potential with two wildly different sets of preferences. While we may be preoccupied with Ram Trucks and Jeep stuff, it is important to note that John Elkann and the incoming CEO, Antonio Filosa, are also responsible for keeping a significant number of Europe's car factories buzzing. However, in remarks at the same conference, Elkann said that Filosa was the right choice in an automotive industry with defined challenges in particular regions. "The experience that Antonio had running Argentina, running Brazil, running South America, and recently running North America is very much in phase with how the world is going between regulations, tariffs, and how you ultimately navigate that constructively with political forces," he said. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
