With the inauguration of the Orbassano plant in the province of Turin, a new Italian car manufacturer has been born. It is called Mole Urbana and will begin production of 12 new modular electric models designed for urban mobility, to which Malya, a kei car for extra-urban use, will later be added. Umberto Palermo, a designer and entrepreneur, conceived and launched the concept. The electric quadricycles and microcars designed for urban transportation will be manufactured in a "light" factory, ensuring low-energy, high-efficiency production. "As a design firm, we have evolved to meet the needs of future generations in terms of electrification. We're talking about the tree, not simply the fruit. And about an industrial, social, and creative ecosystem, all in the spirit of Made in Italy", Umberto Palermo said in an interview with Radiocor, emphasizing that "the entire production comes from a national supply chain between Piedmont and Marche, which rebuilds Italian industrial expertise in sectors where it had almost disappeared". To realize Mole Urbana’s ambitious vision — in which Cassa Depositi e Prestiti participates through CDP Venture Capital — funds and potentially new partners are needed: "We are open to new shareholders because my goal is to avoid debt, which means not borrowing money, but rather to have shareholders who can make a significant contribution", Palermo said, adding that a second round of investments will be announced soon.