Family tightens control at Bertone; Founder's granddaughter will manage the struggling Italian coachbuilder.(News)(Carrozzeria Bertone appoints Barbara Bertone as managing director)(Brief article)

Byline: Luca Ciferri

The Bertone family is strengthening operational control over its struggling Italian coachbuilder.

Last week Ermelinda "Lilli" Bertone, 71, Carrozzeria Bertone chairman and CEO, appointed her youngest daughter, Barbara, as managing director.

Barbara Bertone, 38, faces a tough challenge: She must find work for the contract assembler.

Since it stopped making the Opel/Vauxhall Astra coupe and cabriolet in 2005, the coachbuilder's only work has been final assembly of a special series of 2,000 Mini Coopers in mid-2006.

Carrozzeria Bertone, ...