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Pagani Automobili

Bespoke Luxury HypercarsFounded 1992
Reviewed by Swet Parvadiya
Company data updated: October 2026

Founders

Who Founded Pagani?

Horacio Pagani · Founded 1992 · HQ today: San Cesario sul Panaro, Modena, Italy

Who founded Pagani?

Pagani was founded by Horacio Pagani in 1992. It is now led by Horacio Pagani.

Founders
Horacio Pagani
Founded
1992
Headquarters
San Cesario sul Panaro, Modena, Italy
Number of founders
1
Current CEO
Horacio Pagani (since 1992)
Where was Pagani founded?
Pagani was founded in San Cesario sul Panaro, Modena, Italy in 1992.
When was Pagani founded?
Pagani was founded in 1992.
Who started Pagani?
Pagani was founded by Horacio Pagani.
How old is Pagani?
Pagani is 34 years old as of 2026.

Founding Story

In the 1980s Horacio Pagani worked at Lamborghini, where he led composite work including the carbon-fiber Countach Evoluzione prototype. When Lamborghini declined to buy an autoclave, he bought one himself, left the company and set up Modena Design in 1991 to supply composite parts. That business funded his first car project, which became the Zonda C12 shown at Geneva in 1999.

Horacio Pagani

Background

Horacio Pagani grew up in Casilda, Argentina, building models and small race cars before moving to Italy in 1983. At Lamborghini he rose to lead composite work, then founded the composites consultancy Modena Design in 1991.

Role at Pagani Automobili

Horacio Pagani (born 10 November 1955 in Casilda, Argentina) is the founder and chief designer of Pagani Automobili. With a recommendation from Juan Manuel Fangio he joined Lamborghini, where he worked on carbon-fiber projects including the Countach Evoluzione. He bought his own autoclave, founded Modena Design in 1991 and Pagani Automobili in 1992, and designed the Zonda, Huayra and Utopia.

Education: National University of La Plata. Horacio Pagani was born in 1955.

Pagani Automobili: CEO & Leadership History

Full timeline →

Horacio Pagani

Founder, Chairman & Chief Design Officer

1992 – Present

Founded Modena Design (1991) and Pagani Automobili (1992); designed the Zonda, Huayra and Utopia and led development of Carbo-Titanium composites.

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Who Founded Pagani? FAQ

Who is the sole founder of Pagani Automobili?

Horacio Pagani is the sole founder of Pagani Automobili S.p.A., establishing Modena Design in 1991 and Automobili Pagani in 1992 in San Cesario sul Panaro, Modena, Italy.

What role did Juan Manuel Fangio play in the founding of Pagani?

Well-known Argentine Formula 1 champion Juan Manuel Fangio was Horacio Pagani's childhood hero, mentor, and early patron. Fangio provided critical industry introductions, recommended Mercedes-Benz power, and inspired the original prototype name (initially called the Fangio F1 before being renamed the Zonda C12 following Fangio's death).

Where did Horacio Pagani develop his early engineering passion?

Horacio Pagani developed his passion in Casilda, Argentina, carving miniature wooden supercars from balsa wood at age 10, building his own mini-motorcycles at 15, and engineering complete fiberglass Formula 2 racing cars in his early twenties.

How did Horacio Pagani finance the initial prototype of the Pagani Zonda?

Pagani financed the Zonda's development through revenues generated by his composite engineering company, Modena Design, which produced advanced carbon fiber components for Formula 1 teams, aerospace clients, and automotive OEMs like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Renault.

When and where was the first Pagani hypercar officially unveiled to the public?

The first Pagani production hypercar, the Pagani Zonda C12, was officially unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1999, notable the automotive world with its silver carbon body, centered quad exhaust, and 400-horsepower Mercedes-AMG 6.0L V12.

What early composite vehicle did Horacio Pagani engineer at Lamborghini?

In 1987, Horacio Pagani spearheaded the Lamborghini Countach Evoluzione, the world's first fully functional carbon-fiber composite supercar prototype, proving that composite monocoques drastically improved structural rigidity while reducing vehicle weight by 500 kg.

What core values did Horacio Pagani establish for his atelier?

Horacio Pagani established three foundational tenets: uncompromised aesthetic harmony, technological innovation in lightweight materials, and intense personal relationships with every client, treating each buyer as a patron of automotive fine art.

How does Horacio Pagani's origin story inspire boutique supercar creators?

Horacio Pagani's journey, from a baker's son in rural Argentina building balsa models to conquering Italy's Motor Valley through sheer engineering clever and artistic conviction, remains one of the most celebrated entrepreneurial success stories in modern automotive history.

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Content is for informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Data sourced from SEC filings, annual reports, and public records. See our full disclaimer and methodology.