In 1961, by decree of the Italian president, his family surname was changed from Farina to Pininfarina to match that of the company.

In 2006 Sergio and his son Andrea, who died in 2008, were named Honorary Chairmen of Pininfarina.

On 23 September 2005, he was named Senator for Life of the Italian Republic[1] by Carlo Azeglio Ciampi (together with Giorgio Napolitano).

On 21 February 2007, he attended the vote in which the government motion on foreign policy was defeated in the Senate.

Pininfarina, who attended his first Senate assembly in nine months, cast an "abstain" vote, which helped the opposition forces to defeat the government's foreign policy.