One of the things I most enjoy about our industry is discovering ideas from outside the automotive world. A seat inspired by contemporary furniture, a surface finish borrowed from haute couture, a lighting atmosphere influenced by architecture, an interactive material originally developed for consumer electronics – the boundaries between industries are softening.
And that’s the backdrop for the interview we bring you this week, with Alcantara’s Chris Lefteri and Federica Traviglia. For over half a century, Alcantara has built a strong automotive identity while developing applications in fashion, furniture, interior architecture, electronics, marine, and aviation. Their ability to transfer and leverage expertise and creativity across industries is fascinating.
You’ll see more of this creative exuberance in part II of our 2026 Paris Motor Show coverage, where the newest ways of experiencing and interacting with the automobile were showcased.
As our vehicles evolve to require less and less active control and operation by human drivers and occupants, it’s our opportunity – our responsibility! – to distill, preserve, and refine what makes them unique: their personality, their interior environment, and their ability to inspire emotion.
All the best,
