The stages of our success story

Pilato is proud to unveil in world premiere, the extraordinary LUCE: the ultimate expression of Jaguar power, presence and elegance. Based on the Jaguar F-Pace, it is the first Pilato vehicle from the SUV category.

Pilato signs an agreement with Daimler AG, to become one of only two companies in Europe authorised to lengthen and convert E 213 class cars.

The slow but progressive expansion of Pilato into world markets begins. Pilato hearses reap success in Europe: Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Poland, Norway and the United Kingdom. The gradual spread of Pilato hearses also involves the countries of South East Asia: Sri Lanka, Japan, Singapore and in the Overseas Territories: Guadeloupe and Martinique.

Production begins of the “Skyline4People” with 2 + 2 seats based on a 3700 mm pitch, Mercedes Benz chassis: a compact four seater, agile and easily manoeuverable. Its newly conceived rear seats can be inclined in order to obtain a large loading compartment to carry all the implements needed for work. It guarantees maximum safety levels for those travelling in it thanks to reinforced suspensions on the base vehicle, fitted by Mercedes Benz.

In the wake of “The Queen” success, the new “Aurora” is born: the Jaguar hearse in the 2 seat version from the Jaguar XF Model. This hearse continues and strengthens the partnership with the prestigious Jaguar car-maker which began in 2007 and which has brought to this model European type-approval as a hearse.

The new generation of Mercedes-Benz E-class 212 hearses makes its debut. The SuperStella Five-seater is the extraordinary result of the new design philosophy that combines timeless elegance and functionality, permeating every single detail. Due to a significant increase in wheelbase, the SuperStella is established as the vehicle that ensures maximum comfort for rear passengers.

From the collaboration between Jaguar Italia and Pilato is born “The Queen”, a hearse with five seats, based on the Jaguar XJ vehicle: a hearse which spaces both into the present and into the future, with refined elegance and self-assured majesty, the classic style of the Jaguar brand.

At the Modena show the revolutionary “StarFighter” is presented: a hearse based on the long chassis and a never-before-seen rear part design and with two variants for the front: one with the class E original headlamps and the other with the CLS series headlamps. In this original way Pilato expresses a new way to design the hearse which blends practicality to the unmistakable Italian style.

Hearse “Italia 2+2”. DaimlerChrysler begins production on the Class E 211 Model chassis, on which Pilato S.p.A bases his four hearse models.

The production process evolves: from handicraft to an industrial process based on production engineering. Thus begins the long planning phase for the car, beginning with the design, the search for materials and technology to achieve it, on to the feasibility study for the production processes, to end with the making of a milled tridimensional model which will be used for the production of bodywork moulds.

“Model 2001” enters production: the Mercedes Benz hearse on a long E 270 CDI Mod.210 chassis which revolutionizes completely the hearse's formal standards. It was immediately popular, thanks to its tool compartment accessible by a practical side door and to its distinctive “ogival” rear window which heightens the dynamic character and the engaging personality of this new generation of hearses.

In the history of design it marked the starting point for new and fascinating prospective of a formal, but renewed language capable to blend beauty and elegance with functionality and practicality.

The “Autotrasformazioni Pilato S.R.L.” changes its name and becomes “PILATO S.p.A.”.

Pilato becomes concessionary firm to Mercedes Benz's Financial company Merfina.

The Mercedes Benz 124 model's chassis begins production and it carries on for the next ten years. Pilato becomes established on the Italian hearse market which, in those years, makes use not only of the German Mercedes, but also of many well-known car manufactures like: Fiat, Peugeot, Ford and Citroen.

Pilato begins to convert all the class E chassis versions produced by Mercedes Benz.

During this period Pilato is the first to get ready and implement the “lift-coffin device”, a revolutionary system immediately imitated by all other organizers, made up of an hydraulic piston which, by acting under the steel loading platform, lifts the coffin up by the few centimetres that give the funeral operator a firm grip and a great ease during the loading/unloading operations. This device is still installed today on all Pilato's hearses and it is backed up by a “Compliance Declaration” which certifies that this hydraulic device complies with all European rules regarding safety matters.

Pushed by an inborn passion for cars since his youth, the enterprising Luigi Pilato, owner of the Funeral parlour which carried his name in Ponte della Priula had enjoyed, with some strict collaborators, converting Mercedes cars into hearses. As the years went by, that “pastime” became his main business, which led him to set up “Autotrasformazioni Pilato S.R.L.” and into which he soon introduced his whole family: his wife Anna, and his 3 daughters Barbara, Silmava and Andreina.

Start of the collaboration with Mercedes Benz. The first hearses with the Pilato brand are based on the MB S220 and MB 190 cars.

From the early years the fittings are not only on Mercedes cars, but also on other carmakers', like Fiat and Lancia.