On 11 July 1899 at Palazzo Bricherasio, the company charter of “Società Anonima Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino” was signed. The first factory was opened in 1900 in Corso Dante. 150 workers were employed there and produced 24 cars, among which the 3/12 HP, not yet fitted with reverse gear. Among the members of the Board of Directors, Giovanni Agnelli stood out in the group of investors. The Fiat logo, oval on a blue background and designed by Biscaretti, was adopted in 1904.
Fiat had already proved to be heading toward the most promising markets and in 1908 Fiat Automobile Co. was founded in the United States and develop trade exchanges with France, Austria, United kingdom and Australia.
When the War broke out, company production was almost entirely aimed at supplying the army.
In 1916 the construction of Lingotto started under the direction of Giacomo Mattè Trucco.
The Factory, the largest in Europe, occupied five floors and had a futuristic test track on the roof. It soon became the emblem of the Italian automotive industry and was completed in 1922.
In the Thirties trucks and commercial vehicles underwent considerable technological development and at the same time the aviation and railway sectors grew.
In 1936 a car came out and was destined to an enormous public: the “Topolino”, the smallest utilitarian car in the world, which was produced until 1955.
In 1937 works started for the great Mirafiori plant, opened in 1939, which introduced the most advanced principles of industrial organisation and confirmed company focus on mass production.
In 1945 Senator Giovanni Agnelli died and the presidency of the Fiat was assumed by Vittorio Valletta.
With two new cars such as the 500 and the 1400, Fiat confirmed its commitment to research and innovation.
For the first time the heating and ventilation systems were installed in mass production.
Research continued on marine and aircraft engines: in 1951 the first Italian jet aircraft came into being, the G80.
In 1955 the Fiat 600 was born, a big utilitarian car with a rear mounted engine.
In 1957 the New 500 was presented and in 1960 it began to be produced in the ‘Giardinetta’ version, a precursor of the Station Wagon style.
Moreover, these were the years of Fiat 1800, then 1300 and 1500.
In 1958 production started growing enormously, both for automobiles and farm machinery.
Mirafiori doubled its factories and Fiat set up new manufacturing plants abroad as well.
In 1966 Giovanni Agnelli, the grandson of the founder, became President of the company.
Growth continued in exports as well as production: the trend showed an increase from one car every 96 inhabitants to one every 28.
In the meantime Fiat boosted its presence in southern Italy by setting up numerous factories there.
Mirafiori doubled its factories and Fiat set up new manufacturing plants abroad as well.
After Fiat 850, a new popular utilitarian car, the 127, made its debut in 1971.
It was the first Fiat car with front wheel drive; it met with great success on the market and was named “Car of the Year”.
Mirafiori doubled its factories and Fiat set up new manufacturing plants abroad as well.
In 1978 the “Robogate” system was created, the new flexible robotized system for assembling the bodywork.
It was the road to innovation and the automation of production.
In 1982 the car that would become the emblem of Fiat Auto’s renewal was born: the Fiat Uno. It featured radical innovations in its electronics, choice of materials and the use of a clean engine: the 1000 Fire. Fiat Uno was named “Car of The Year” in 1984, and also Punto, in 1995 and Bravo/Brava, 1996, were named “Car of the Year”.
In 1998 Panda is 18 years old and enters in the classification of the most long-lived cars. The new millennium saw the production of many models of great success, as the new Panda (“Car of the Year” in 2004), the new Croma and the Great Punto: together with the other models they are supporting the growthof the brand in the European top positions.
Totally, the Fiat cars produced by the date of today are more the 65 millions.