Kartell presentation at Salone del Mobile 2025 centers on future-facing design. Inside a vibrant red stand created by Ferruccio Laviani, the company introduces Grande Panda Kartell, a concept vehicle born from its long-standing collaboration with FIAT. Unlike traditional product showcases, this unveiling functions as a creative lab: an active design experiment rather than a completed object.
CARS
The car reflects a continuous exchange between Kartell’s design sensibility and FIAT’s automotive expertise. This model doesn’t just echo the physical language of either brand, it translates shared values into form, color, and material experimentation.
At the Milan fair, the Grande Panda Kartell served as the centerpiece of Kartell’s stand. Laviani’s chromatic environment amplifies the intensity of the red exterior, setting the tone for a concept that moves confidently between design categories.
Claudio Luti, President of Kartell, describes the project as an embodiment of Kartell’s forward-looking philosophy. “Looking to the future means approaching each day with the drive to take action, to do better, and to create emotion and beauty,” he says. In that context, the collaboration with FIAT becomes more than a product, it becomes an evolving conversation between design and engineering.
This partnership reaches back to the 1950s, when Kartell designed a ski rack for the original Fiat 500. The conversation between brands has grown steadily since then, continuing in 2020 with the Fiat 500 Kartell. The Grande Panda Kartell builds on that shared history while moving into new territory.
Olivier Francois, CEO of FIAT, praises Kartell’s commitment to sustainable design and innovation. He notes that working together allows both brands to test new ideas, explore audience reactions outside the automotive sector, and expand their design vocabulary.
From the outside, the car features a vivid red finish that communicates energy and aligns with Kartell’s visual identity. Inside, Tasmania Blue contrasts with the exterior to create a graphic and pop-forward effect. The result feels fresh, deliberate, and unmistakably tied to Kartell’s color instincts.
Brand elements appear throughout the design: the “Love” logo punctuates the wheels and rear of the car, while a thermo-printed “kk” monogram creates a 3D texture across the cabin. Playful touches include pop mélange canvas and for those who look closely, Kartell’s iconic lamp embedded in the cluster.
True to Kartell’s ethos, materials shape more than aesthetics. Polycarbonate 2.0, a renewable second-generation polymer, brings durability and transparency to the design while keeping weight low. The brand’s exploration of the “tex to tex” process further pushes sustainable boundaries by repurposing offcuts from its Foliage armchair into recycled polyester thread for seat covers. The resulting textile contains 60% recycled content and transforms industrial leftovers into high-quality surfaces. Every material choice points toward a broader dialogue between reuse, quality, and function.
As part of the concept lab, Kartell and FIAT revisit the idea that started it all, the ski rack, now redesigned with contemporary materials and production techniques. This new accessory, still in development, connects the Grande Panda Kartell back to its earliest roots while reinforcing the brands’ mutual interest in thoughtful progress.
wow ! The color red is everything! Absolutely in love with the car ever since i have seen it at Salone del Mobile in Milano. Highlight of the Fiera for me, and really not expected from Kartell.
this is so cute! Loved seeing it in Milan at Salone! Makes me want a Fiat, thank you Kartell ahahha