It was on the evening of San Prospero, in Reggio Emilia, that we held the celebratory event for the 53rd anniversary of Phonocar, together with all our collaborators, agents, distributors and our main Italian and international suppliers.

Hosted in the stunning setting of Ruote da Sogno, the first guest of the evening was Juri Chechi, the Olympic champion who has left an indelible mark on Italian sport. With great humanity, he shared his personal journey – a path that reached its peak with the gold medal in Atlanta, followed by his remarkable comeback at the Athens Olympics after a severe injury.

His heartfelt testimony deeply moved the audience and offered food for thought, drawing parallels with the values and dedication that drive our company and all the people involved.

The evening was also an opportunity to take stock of the automotive sector, currently undergoing epoch-making transformations in both products (the transition to electric) and distribution (new car-sales channels).

Phonocar presented its strategies for the future to an audience of stakeholders and collaborators, focusing on the opportunities brought by these changes and the challenges that lie ahead.

The central theme of the event was “restart” – a concept close to the company’s heart. After a challenging 2024, marked by major changes, this year’s strong growth has been fuelled by strategic decisions and significant investments that have already led to important milestones.

The initiative stems from the Italian launch of SupportBelt™, a seat belt accessory designed to provide relief and protection to those who experience discomfort due to belt pressure — particularly after mastectomy surgery.

This innovation was made possible through collaboration with the Fondazione ANT Franco Pannuti – ETS. Founded in Bologna in 1978 by oncologist Franco Pannuti, the foundation provides free specialist medical assistance at home for cancer patients and promotes free cancer prevention programmes.

The organisation has become a point of reference in Italy for home-based specialist care for cancer patients and for oncological prevention.

As part of the partnership, Ford Italia donated 100 SupportBelt™ devices for direct distribution and made available two vehicles — the fully electric Ford Explorer and the plug-in hybrid Transit Custom — to make home assistance and transport more efficient and sustainable.

Phonocar, in turn, donated two next-generation Wall Boxes from its product line dedicated to vehicle electrification. These will be installed at the ANT headquarters to facilitate vehicle charging and support the foundation’s operations.

“The arrival of SupportBelt in Italy, made possible thanks to the valuable collaboration with Fondazione ANT, is a source of great pride for us,” commented Fabrizio Faltoni, Managing Director of Ford Italia.
“This accessory shows how innovation — when driven by personal experience and empathy — can make a tangible difference in people’s lives. Initiatives like this give deeper meaning to our work, because knowing that we can contribute, even in a small way, to someone’s well-being adds immeasurable value.”

“As soon as we were contacted by Ford Italia through our OEM Channel Manager Nicoló Chiti regarding this initiative, we enthusiastically joined in,” added Guglielmo Bagnacani, CEO of Phonocar S.p.A. “We believe it is crucial for private companies to contribute to society through organisations like Fondazione ANT, which play a fundamental role in alleviating the daily challenges faced by oncology patients. We are proud to support Ford Italia and to contribute to such an important cause with our products.”

Unmissable appointment for Phonocar, the Salon Norauto sees our technicians engaged in presenting and demonstrating the latest innovations in car entertainment and safety.

As official suppliers to Norauto for over 10 years, we will be present at all three stages in Marseille, Lille, and Madrid.