company name | Fiat S.p.A. |
---|
company logo | |
---|
company type | Società per azioni |
---|
traded as | |
---|
foundation | 11 July 1899 in Turin, Italy |
---|
founder | Giovanni Agnelli |
---|
location | Turin, Italy |
---|
key people | John Elkann (Chairman), Sergio Marchionne (CEO) |
---|
industry | Automotive, media, financial services, metallurgy |
---|
products | Autos, auto parts, financing, newspaper publishing, ad sales |
---|
Production | 2,094,048 units (automobiles and LCVs, 2010) |
---|
revenue | €35.88 billion (2010) |
---|
operating income | €992 million (2010) |
---|
net income | €179 million (2010) |
---|
assets | €73.44 billion (end 2010) |
---|
equity | €12.46 billion (end 2010) |
---|
num employees | 137,800 (end 2010) |
---|
subsid | |
---|
homepage | fiatspa.com |
---|
intl | yes
}} |
---|
Fiat S.p.A., (''Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino'') (), is an
Italian automobile manufacturer,
engine manufacturer, financial and industrial group based in
Turin in the Italian region of
Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including
Giovanni Agnelli. During its more than a century long history, Fiat has also manufactured railway engines and carriages,
military vehicles, and aircrafts. As of 2009, the Fiat group (not inclusive of its subsidiary
Chrysler) was the world's ninth largest carmaker and the largest in Italy.
Fiat-based cars are built around the world. Outside Italy, the largest country of production is Brazil, where the Fiat brand is the market leader. The group also has factories in Argentina and Poland and a long history of licensing production of its products in other countries. It also has numerous alliances and joint ventures around the world, the main ones being located in Italy, France, Turkey, Serbia, India and China.
Agnelli's grandson Gianni Agnelli was Fiat's chairman from 1966 until 1996; he then served as honorary chairman from 1996 until his death on 24 January 2003, during which time Cesare Romiti served as chairman. After their removal, Paolo Fresco served as chairman and Paolo Cantarella as CEO. Umberto Agnelli then took over as chairman from 2003 to 2004. After Umberto Agnelli's death on 28 May 2004, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo was named chairman, with Agnelli heir John Elkann becoming vice chairman (at the age of 28), and other family members also serving on the board. At this point, CEO Giuseppe Morchio resigned, and Sergio Marchionne was named to replace him on 1 June 2004.
In September 2010, shareholders approved a plan to split Fiat's capital goods businesses from the group. Agricultural and construction equipment manufacturer CNH Global NV, truck maker Iveco, and the industrial and marine division of Fiat Powertrain Technologies were spun off into a new group on 1 January 2011. The parent company, Fiat Industrial S.p.A., was listed on the Milan stock exchange on 3 January 2011.
History
Giovanni Agnelli founded Fiat in 1899 with several investors and led the company until his death in 1945, while Vittorio Valletta administered the firm's daily activities. Its first car the 3 ½ CV (of which only eight copies were built, all bodied by Alessio of Turin) strongly resembled contemporary Benz, and had a boxer twin engine. In 1908, the first Fiat was exported to the US. That same year, the first Fiat aircraft engine was produced. Also around the same time, Fiat taxis became somewhat popular in Europe. By 1910, Fiat was the largest automotive company in Italy — a position it has retained since. That same year, a plant licensed to produce Fiats in Poughkeepsie, NY, made its first car. Owning a Fiat at that time was a sign of distinction. The cost of a Fiat in the US was between $3,600 and $8,600, compared to US$825 the Model T in 1908.
Upon the entry of the US into World War I in 1917, the factory was shut down as US regulations became too burdensome. At the same time, Fiat had to devote all of its factories to supplying the Allies with aircraft, engines, machine guns, trucks, and ambulances. After the war, Fiat introduced its first tractor, the 702. By the early 1920s, Fiat had a market share in Italy of 80%.
In 1921, workers seized Fiat's plants and hoisted the red flag of communism over them. Agnelli responded by quitting the company. However, the Italian Socialist Party and its ally organization, the General Confederation of Labor, in an effort to effect a compromise with the centrist parties ordered the occupation ended. In 1922, Fiat began to build the famous Lingotto car factory — then the largest in Europe — which opened in 1923. It was the first Fiat factory to use assembly lines; by 1925, Fiat controlled 87% of the Italian car market. In 1928, with the 509, Fiat included insurance in the purchase price.
Fiat made military machinery and vehicles during World War II for the Army and ''Regia Aeronautica'' and later for the Germans. Fiat made obsolete fighter aircraft like the biplane CR.42, which was one of the most common Italian aircraft, along with Savoia-Marchettis, as well as light tanks (obsolete compared to their German and Soviet counterparts) and armoured vehicles. The best Fiat aircraft was the G.55 fighter, which arrived too late and in too limited numbers. In 1945 — the year Mussolini was overthrown — the Italian Committee of National Liberation removed the Agnelli family from leadership roles in Fiat because of its ties to Mussolini's government. These were not returned until 1963, when Giovanni's grandson, Gianni, took over as general manager until 1966, as chairman until 1996.
Gianni Agnelli
Among the younger Agnelli's first steps after gaining control of Fiat was a massive reorganization of the company management, which had previously been highly centralized, with little provision for the delegation of authority and decision-making. Such a system was effective in the past, but lacked the responsiveness and flexibility needed by Fiat's steady expansion, and the growth of its international operations in the 1960s. The company was reorganized on a product-line basis, with two main product groups — one for passenger cars, the other for trucks and tractors — and a number of semi-independent division and subsidiaries. Top management, freed from responsibility for day-by-day operations of the company, was able to devote its efforts to more far-reaching goals. In 1967, Fiat made its first acquisition when it purchased Autobianchi; with sales amounting to $1.7 billion, it outstripped Volkswagen, its main European competitor, and in 1968 produced some 1,750,000 vehicles while its sales volume climbed to $2.1 billion. According to ''Newsweek'' in 1968, Fiat was "the most dynamic automaker in Europe...[and] may come closest to challenging the worldwide supremacy of Detroit." Then, in 1969, it purchased controlling interests in Ferrari and Lancia. At the time, Fiat was a conglomerate, owning Alitalia, toll highways, a typewriter and office machine manufacturer, electronics and electrical equipment firms, a paint company, a civil engineering firm, and an international construction company. Following up on an agreement Valletta had made with Soviet officials in 1966, Agnelli constructed the AvtoVAZ plant in the new city of Togliattigrad on the Volga. This began operation in 1970, producing a local version of the Fiat 124 as the Lada. On his initiative, Fiat automobile and truck plants were also constructed in industrial centers of Yugoslavia, Poland, Bulgaria, and Romania.
Despite offering a relatively competitive range of cars, Fiat was not immune from the financial pressures that the auto industry confronted following the 1973 oil price shock. Towards the end of 1976 it was announced that the Libyan government was to take a 9.6% shareholding in the company in return for a capital injection worth an equivalent of £250 million. The size of the Libyan investment is apparent when it is compared to the £310 million IMF loan that the Italian government was trying to negotiate at the time. Other aspects of the Libyan agreement included the construction of a truck and bus plant at Tripoli. Chairman Agnelli candidly described the deal as "a classic petro-money recycling operation which will strengthen the Italian reserves, provide Fiat with fresh capital and give the group greater tranquility in which to carry out its investment programmes". Equally noteworthy was the fact that despite the dilutive effect of the Libyan investment on existing shareholders, the company's largest shareholder, the Agnelli family, retained a 30% stake in the recapitalised business.
In 1979, the company became a holding company when it spun off its various businesses into autonomous companies, one of them being Fiat Auto. That same year, sales reached an all-time high in the US, corresponding to the Iranian Oil Crisis. However, when gas prices fell again after 1981, Americans began purchasing sport utility vehicles, minivans, and pickup trucks in larger numbers (marking a departure from their past preference for large cars). Also, Japanese automakers had been taking an ever-larger share of the car market, increasing at more than half a percent a year. Consequently, in 1984, Fiat and Lancia withdrew from the United States market. In 1989, it did the same in the Australian market, although it remained in New Zealand.
In 1986, Fiat acquired Alfa Romeo from the Italian government. Also, in 1986 15% of Fiat company stock was still owned by Libya, an investment dating back to the mid-seventies. US foreign policy under President Reagan's administration canceled a Pentagon contract to produce earth movers with Fiat and pressured the company into brokering a buyout of the Libyan investment. In 1992, two top corporate officials in the Fiat Group were arrested for political corruption. A year later, Fiat acquired Maserati. In 1995 Alfa Romeo exited the US market. Maserati re-entered the US market under Fiat in 2002. Since then, Maserati sales there have been increasing briskly.
Paolo Fresco
Paolo Fresco became chairman of Fiat in 1998 with the hope that the veteran of
General Electric would bring more emphasis on shareholder value to Fiat. By the time he took power, Fiat's market share in Italy had fallen to 41% from around 62% in 1984. However, a Jack Welch-like management style would be much harsher than that used by the Italians (e.g., precarious versus lifetime employment). Instead, Fresco focused on offering more incentives for good performance, including compensation using stock options for top and middle management.
However, his efforts were frustrated by union objections. Unions insisted that pay raises be set by length of tenure, rather than performance. Another conflict was over his preference for informality (the founder, Giovanni Agnelli, used to be a cavalry officer). He often referred to other managers by their first name, although company tradition obliged one to refer to others using their titles (e.g., "Chairman Fresco"). The CEO of the company, Managing Director Paolo Cantarella, ran the day-to-day affairs of the company, while Fresco determined company strategy and especially acted as a negotiator for the company. In fact, many speculated the main reason he was chosen for the job was to sell Fiat Auto (although Fresco fervently denied it). In 1999, Fiat formed CNH Global by merging New Holland NV and Case Corporation.
Partnership with GM
The current CEO views alliances such as these as the deciding factor of the future success of Fiat. In 2005, Fiat was courting Ford.
As part of the recent divestitures, under the guidance of CEO Giuseppe Morchio in 2003 Fiat shed its insurance sector, which it was operating through Toro Assicurazioni to the DeAgostini Group. In the same year, Fiat sold its aviation business, FiatAvio to Avio Holding. In February 2004, the company sold its interest in Fiat Engineering, as well as its stake in Edison.
Fiat faces a multitude of threats, including rising steel prices (up by 16–30% beginning of 2008), a strong Euro, and increased competition from Japanese and South Korean car manufacturers in Europe. Although the light-vehicle market share of Japanese and South Korean automakers in Europe is less than in the US (12.5% and 3.9%, respectively versus 30% and 3.9% in the US), it has been increasing steadily at about a half a percent a year.
In April and May 2009, the possibility of a takeover of Adam Opel GmbH, a subsidiary of General Motors, was being discussed between the two companies. The deal fell through, and General Motors held on to Opel/Vauxhall.
Sergio Marchionne
Sergio Marchionne has impressed investors since taking over as CEO in June, 2004. Losses have fallen steadily since 2002, and Q4 of FY2005 saw its first profit in 17 quarters, and had a profit of €196M for the first 9 months of FY2006. Mr. Marchionne has reduced Fiat's managerial bureaucracy and changed its tone to a focus on markets and profit. While the chairman, Luca di Montezemolo, dealt with politicians and unions, Marchionne rebuilt the car business. The success of the
Grande Punto model has in large part been responsible for the turnaround in Fiat's fortunes, but the quite successful Bravo (successor to the Stilo) and the award winning 500 have really cemented it. Fiat has formed a joint venture with India's
TATA Motors and China's
Chery motors. Under Marchionne it has also re-entered several large markets that it had exited years before, such as Mexico and Australia. In December 2008, Marchionne announced Fiat have to become one of the top five automakers to survive in the long run. In 2009, Fiat expressed interest in acquiring
General Motors'
Opel and South American operation. GM declined Fiat's offer. In Marchionne´s leadership Fiat returned to the United States and Canada markets with the new 500.
Acquisition of Chrysler
On 20 January 2009, Fiat S.p.A. and
Chrysler LLC announced their intention to form a global alliance. Under the terms of the agreement, Fiat would take a 20% stake in Chrysler and gain access to its North American distribution network in exchange for providing Chrysler with technology and platforms to build smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles in the US and providing reciprocal access to Fiat's global distribution network.
In addition, the proposed agreement would entitle Fiat to receive a further 15% (without cash consideration) through the achievement of specific product and commercial objectives. No cash or financial support was required from Fiat under the agreement. Instead it would obtain its stake mainly in exchange for covering the cost of retooling a Chrysler plant to produce one or more Fiat models for in the US. Fiat would also provide engine and transmission technology to enable Chrysler to introduce smaller, fuel-efficient models in the NAFTA market.
The deal was engineered by Fiat chief Sergio Marchionne, who pulled the Italian group back from the brink of collapse after taking over in 2004. The principal objective of the partnership was to provide both groups with significantly enhanced economies of scale and geographical reach at a time when they were struggling to compete with larger and more global rivals such as Toyota, Volkswagen and alliance partners Renault S.A. and Nissan.
On 30 April 2009, Fiat announced the signing of a series of agreements to form a global strategic alliance with Chrysler, with Fiat receiving an initial 20% stake and the option to further purchase/receive additional ownership interests in Chrysler, pursuant to certain conditions being met. Fiat's shareholding would be capped at 49%, however, until all government loans had been repaid.
Fiat would not have to pay any money for its 20% of Chrysler. On 7 June 2009, the Indiana State Police Pension Fund, the Indiana Teacher's Retirement Fund, and the state's Major Moves Construction Fund asked the US Supreme Court to delay the sale of Chrysler to Fiat while they challenge the deal. The funds argued that the sale went against US bankruptcy law because it unlawfully rewarded unsecured creditors ahead of secured creditors. On 9 June 2009, the Supreme Court lifted the temporary hold, clearing the way for Fiat to acquire Chrysler. See Indiana State Police Pension Trust v. Chrysler for more information. On 10 June, the Supreme Court announced that Fiat was now an owner of the new Chrysler a.k.a Chrysler Group LLC.
Marchionne was appointed CEO of Chrysler following its emergence from bankruptcy proceedings. Under his leadership, Chrysler has taken on a structure similar to that of Fiat and has released, in quick succession, a large number of completely redesigned or refreshed vehicles. The launch of the Fiat 500 marked the Italian automaker's return to the United States & Canada, a market from which it had been absent since 1984. Prior to this, Fiat's main presence on the continent was Mexico, where it offered a greater variety of products than in the United States & Canada.
On 10 January 2011, Fiat announced that it had increased its share in Chrysler from 20% to 25% following the achievement of the first of three performance objectives. On 11 April 2011, it announced achievement of the second performance objective, increasing its stake a further 5% to 30%. On 24 May 2011, Fiat announced that it had paid Chrysler US$ 1,268 million for a further 16% interest, increasing its stake total stake to 46% (fully diluted). The transaction coincided with Chrysler refinancing its debt to the U.S. and Canadian governments. On 25 May autonews.com reported that Fiat could buy government stakes in Chrysler as soon as the end of July 2011, increasing its total stake to 54%.
In May 2011, it emerged that Fiat could actually increase its stake in Chrysler Group to more than 70 percent through the exercise of further options.
In a regulatory filing dated 22 July 2011, the Michigan-based automaker reported that Fiat held a 53.5% interest (fully diluted). Fiat and Chrylser have both stated that they expect that interest to reach 58.5% by the end of 2011 as result of achievement of the third of the three performance objectives. In 5 January 2012 Fiat released press info that the ownership has increased to 58.5%.
Activities
The group's activities were initially focused on the industrial production of cars, industrial and agricultural vehicles. Over time it has diversified into many other fields, and the group now has activities in a wide range of sectors in industry and financial services. It is Italy's largest industrial concern. It also has significant worldwide operations, operating in 61 countries with 1,063 companies that employ over 223,000 people, 111,000 of whom are outside Italy.
Principal subsidiaries
Fiat's principal operating subsidiaries (direct and indirect) include: Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A. (FGA);
Chrysler Group LLC (a subsidiary of FGA); Fiat Automoveis, S.A. (subsidiary of FGA); FGA Capital S.p.A. (a JV held 50% by FGA);
Ferrari S.p.A.;
Maserati S.p.A.; Fiat Powertrain Technologies S.p.A.; Magneti Marelli S.p.A.; Teksid S.p.A.; Comau S.p.A.; Itedi-Italiana Edizioni S.p.A. (see 2010 Annual Report).
Automotive
''For Fiat branded cars see
Fiat Automobiles''
{| style="float:right;"
|}
Fiat is the largest vehicle manufacturer in Italy, with cars ranging from small Fiat city cars to sports cars made by Ferrari, and vans and trucks such as the Ducato. Besides Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A, the Fiat Group automotive companies include Ferrari S.p.A. and Maserati S.p.A. The Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A. companies include: Abarth & C. S.p.A., Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A., Chrysler Group LLC, Fiat Automobiles S.p.A., Fiat Professional and Lancia Automobiles S.p.A.. Ferrari S.p.A. is 90% owned by the Fiat Group.
The European Car of the Year award, Europe's premier automotive trophy for the past 40 years, has been awarded twelve times to the Fiat Group, more than any other manufacturer. Most recently the Fiat Nuova 500 has won the award for European Car of the Year 2008.
List of Fiat Group models which have won European Car of the Year:
1967: Fiat 124
1970: Fiat 128
1972: Fiat 127
1980: Lancia Delta
1984: Fiat Uno
1989: Fiat Tipo
1995: Fiat Punto
1996: Fiat Bravo/Brava
1998: Alfa Romeo 156
2001: Alfa Romeo 147
2004: Fiat Panda
2008: Fiat 500
Commercial vehicles
On 17 April 2007 Fiat Automobiles'
light commercial vehicle unit ''Fiat Veicoli Commerciali'' was rebranded as
Fiat Professional. Some of Fiat's light commercial vehicle products include the
Fiat Ducato,
Fiat Scudo and
Fiat Doblò Cargo.
Fiat's main commercial vehicles unit Iveco was demerged into Fiat Industrial at the beginning of 2011. This encompasses trucks (Iveco and Seddon Atkinson), buses (Iveco and Irisbus) and firefighting vehicles (Camiva, Iveco and Magirus). For information on their military vehicles, see Ariete.
Components
The major Italian component maker
Magneti Marelli is owned by Fiat, and in turn owns the other brands Carello, Automotive Lighting, Siem, Cofap, Jaeger,
Solex, Veglia Borletti, Vitaloni, and
Weber; other accessory brands include Brazilian Cofap.
Metallurgical products
Fiat owns Teksid S.p.A., the largest iron foundry group in the world with a production capacity of approximately 600,000 tons annually. The company was established in December 1978, and designs and produces cylinder blocks, cylinder heads, exhaust manifolds, drive shafts, camshafts and other components for automobiles and commercial vehicles.
Teksid, which is specialized in casting and processing iron, has plants in France, Portugal, Poland, Brazil, Mexico and China.
Since 2007, Teksid S.p.A. runs also Teksid Aluminum S.r.l. a company specialized in casting and producing auto components from aluminium alloys.
Production systems
Production systems are made mainly through
Comau S.p.A. (now Comau Systems), which bought the American Pico, Renault Automation and Sciaky and produces industrial automation systems. In the 1970s and 1980s, the company became a pioneer in the use of industrial robotics for the assembly of motor vehicles. Fiat assembly plants are among the best automated and advanced in the world.
Services
An insurance company, Toro Assicurazioni, allowed Fiat to control a relevant part of this market (also with minor companies like Lloyd Italico) and to interact with some associated banks. Toro Assicurazioni was acquired by the giant insurance company
Assicurazioni Generali and is no longer related to the Fiat Group. Fiat still retains control of
Augusta assicurazioni.
Construction
Ingest Facility and Fiat Engineering work in various fields of construction, while IPI is a mediation company that also deals with the management of real estate properties.
Information technology
Fiat Group is present in
IT fields and in communications with ICT — Information & Communication Technology, Espin, Global Value, TeleClient, London and Atlanet.
Publishing and communication
Fiat group also owns important editorial brands, like ''
La Stampa'' (created in 1926 for the famous newspaper), Itedi, and Italiana Edizioni. Some national and local newspapers are owned or otherwise controlled by the different companies. A specialised advertising space reseller is Publikompass, supported by the Consorzio Fiat Media Center.
Other activities
Fiat Gesco, KeyG Consulting, Sadi Customs Services, Easy Drive, RM Risk Management and Servizio Titoli are minor companies that work for public services, delivering services in economics and financial fields. Other activities include industrial securitisation (Consorzio Sirio), treasury (Fiat Geva), Fiat Information & Communication Services.
Fiat supports the ''Fondazione Giovanni Agnelli'', an important foundation for social and economic research. Palazzo Grassi, a famous ancient building in Venice, now a museum and formerly supported by Fiat, was eventually sold to the French businessman François Pinault in January 2005.
Fiat has recently begun sponsoring the Jamaican bobsledding team and promoting this sponsorship through commercials. Many like Jamaican athletes because they see them as underdogs and as people who enjoy life. While Volvo sponsors golf, Mercedes tennis, and Hyundai soccer, Fiat is trying to look unique and more light-hearted. Further, the team is relatively cheap to sponsor.
The group is present in many countries, not only in the West. Notably, it was one of the first companies to build factories in Soviet territory, with the best known examples in Vladivostok, Kiev and Togliatti. The Russian government later continued the joint venture under the name AutoVAZ (known as Lada outside the former USSR). The venture was most notable for the Lada Riva. Fiat also has a subsidiary in Poland at Tychy, (formerly called FSM) where Fiat's small cars (the 126, Cinquecento, Seicento, Nuova 500 and Ford Ka) and small diesel engines are made. Fiat also has factories in Argentina, Brazil, and Italy. In addition, its cars are produced through licensing and joint-venture agreements in China, Egypt, France, India, South Africa, Turkey, and Vietnam. Local variants of Fiats are produced at these factories as well as a world car, the Palio. As of 2005, the company holds the first position in the Brazilian automobile market with a market share close to 25%.
Fiat has articulated that it wishes to focus on expanding into third-world markets because, in the words of former chairman Paolo Fresco, "those are the only markets where you can expect growth. And it is true that Fiat's specialization in smaller cars puts it at an advantage in those markets, but cars sold in third-world countries tend to be much simpler than those sold elsewhere (e.g., most lack air conditioning), and thus require much less money to develop.
Fiat is also present in the combat vehicle sector through a consortium between Iveco and OTO Melara, their most notable product being the LAV B1 Centauro.
Former activities
Agricultural and construction equipment
Fiat Group previously owned
CNH Global (which includes Case Construction,
Case IH, Flexi-Coil, Kobelco,
New Holland, New Holland Construction, and Steyr); and Fiat-
Hitachi Construction. This was demerged into
Fiat Industrial at the start of 2011. CNH is the second largest agricultural equipment manufacturer in the world after
Deere & Company and is also the third largest producer of construction equipment after
Caterpillar Inc. and
Komatsu. When part of Fiat Group, CNH accounted for around 20% of its total revenues.
Aviation and motorcycles
Fiat, as Fiat Aviazione, was an important aircraft manufacturer, focused mainly on military aviation. After World War I, Fiat consolidated several Italian small aircraft manufacturers, like Pomilio and Ansaldo. Most famous were Fiat biplane fighter aircraft of the 1930s, Fiat CR.32 and Fiat CR.42. Other notable designs were fighters CR.20, G.50, G.55 and a bomber, the Fiat BR.20. In 1950s, the company designed the G.91 light ground attack plane. In 1969, Fiat Aviazione merged with Aerfer to create Aeritalia.
In 1959, Piaggio came under the control of the Agnelli family. In 1964, the aeronautical and motorcycle divisions split to become independent companies. The aeronautical division was named IAM Rinaldo Piaggio. Today the aeronautical company Piaggio Aero is controlled by the family of Piero Ferrari, which also holds 10% of the carmaker Ferrari.
The motorcycle division, Vespa, thrived until 1992, when Giovanni Alberto Agnelli became CEO — but Agnelli was already suffering from cancer, and died in 1997. In 1999, Morgan Grenfell Private Equity acquired Piaggio.
Rail transport
Fiat Ferroviaria, there has been a long history going back pre WW2 of FIAT motive power used for both Diesel and electric locomotives and railcars (Littorine) not only in Italy, but other parts of Europe, and in South America, but from the 1970s onward, more widely known throughout the world with their successful commercial development of the Pendolino
tilting trains, the first working prototype four car set being run in the mid-1970s.
Recreation
The Fiat Group owned the
Sestriere skiing facilities; the village in the
Alps is a creation of the Agnelli family. The Sestriere skiing facilities were sold by the group in 2006.
Enterprises outside Italy
''See list of
Fiat Group assembly sites''
Fiat was a key player in developing motor industries for a number of countries from the 1950s, particularly in Eastern Europe, Spain, Egypt, Ethiopia and Turkey. The AutoVAZ state works Lada products in Tolyatti (Togliatti), Russia, were Fiat based, as were SEAT products of Spain. Lada now is controlled by Renault, and SEAT by Volkswagen. A small number of Fiats were built in Bulgaria. Among Fiat's earliest foreign assembly plants was one in Poughkeepsie, New York, between 1910 and 1913. The building is now part of the Marist College campus.
Fiat Automóveis (Brazil)
Fiat Automóveis S.A., a subsidiary of Fiat S.p.A., began making automobiles in Brazil in 1976 beginning with the production of the Fiat 147, the Brazilian version of the Italian Fiat 127, produced until 1986. More than 10,000,000 units were produced in Fiat Automóveis factory in Betim since 1976, plus 232,807 units in the Fiat Argentina plant of Córdoba.
Launched in July 1979, the 147 was the first mass produced car that ran on ethanol as fuel instead of petrol. The performance slightly increased and fuel consumption was 30% higher but the cost of the alcohol was a quarter of the gasoline because, at that time, petrol had become expensive as a consequence of the 1979 oil crisis. This version was nicknamed ''cachacinha'' (little cachaça) because it had the scent of that Brazilian drink.
In October 1984 Fiat Automóveis introduce the Fiat Uno, as a 1985 model. Currently, the car is sold as the Fiat Mille, as an entry-level model, and received its most recent facelift for the 2004 model year. From 1984 until 2006, up to 2,000,000 Fiat Unos were made in Brazil. The production of the world car — the Fiat Palio – began in 1996.
After the successful 2003 introduction of flexible-fuel vehicles in the Brazilian market, Fiat Automóveis launched its first flex model in March 2004, the Fiat Palio, followed by the Siena and Palio Weekend. Fiat sold 665,514 vehicles in Brazil in 2008, allowing the carmaker to continue as the market leader for seven years in a row. Flex fuel automobiles represented almost 100 percent of the car sales in 2008, and 92 percent of all light-duty trucks sold.
In 2006 Fiat introduced the Fiat Siena Tetra fuel, a four-fuel car developed under Magneti Marelli of Fiat Brazil. This automobile can run as a flex-fuel on 100% ethanol (E100); or on E20-E25 blend, Brazil's normal ethanol gasoline blend; on pure gasoline (though no longer available in Brazil since 1993, it is still used in neighboring countries); or just on natural gas (CNG). The Siena Tetrafuel was engineered to switch from any gasoline-ethanol blend to CNG automatically, depending on the power required by road conditions.
Fiat Argentina
Fiat has been present in Argentina since the beginning of 20th century. There was a Fiat manufacturing plant in Córdoba at least as far back as 1954 when Fiat entered into a joint venture with two local companies to manufacture tractors. In 1959 the construction of a car plant in
Caseros was approved, and 1960 saw the production there of the first Argentinian produced Fiat passenger car, a
Fiat 600, after the
Fiat 1100 Export and after in 1963 the
Fiat 1500. In 1977 appears the Fiat 133, just a rebadged Seat 133 but made in Argentina. By 1978 a car manufacturing facility was well established in
Córdoba, producing
Fiat 128s as well as two models which from the Italian perspective belonged in earlier decades, the
125 (with some derivates) and the
600R.
In 1980 a joint venture with PSA called Sevel Argentina S.A. was begun, which lasted until 1995. The current day automobile manufacturing started with a new factory opened in Córdoba on 20 December 1996. From April 1997 the Siena and Palio models production started.
Production was suspended in the early 2000s as the Argentinean economy went downhill. In 2008 Fiat invested new money and the production of Fiat Siena saloon and the Fiat Palio was started. In October 2009, a Fiat Siena HLX becomes the 2 million unit produced by Fiat in Argentina. The Fiat Auto Argentina S.A. is Fiat S.p.A. owned company.
Fiat Serbia
Its first enterprise came in 1955, when it agreed to a deal with
Yugoslav carmaker
Zastava to assemble Fiats for Eastern Europe. The first cars produced by Zastava were its versions of the
Fiat 1300 and
Fiat 1400. By 1970, Zastava was producing parts for the newer
Fiat 124 and
Fiat 125 models, which were assembled in Poland. The
Zastava 750, launched in 1962, was Zastava's version of the iconic
Fiat 600 minicar. It outlived the car on which it was based, with production lasting until 1981.
Zastavas were not popular outside of Eastern Europe before the 1980s, although they were exported to the US under the Yugo brand beginning in 1985.
The most famous product launched by Zastava is the Zastava 101, a front-wheel drive car based on the Fiat 128, also available as a hatchback version never sold in Italy. Despite numerous bad press about quality and reliability, it sold well in Yugoslavia due to its low price, cheap maintenance costs and simple mechanical design.
With the demise of the aged Zastava 750 in 1981, the minicar gap in the Zastava range was filled by the Zastava Koral, which was best known in Britain and America as the Yugo Tempo. It was based on the 1971 Fiat 127, which was due to be replaced by the Fiat Uno in 1983. It was among the cheapest cars sold in both countries, and it was well received in its class in Britain, but not so in the more competitive US market. But hostility towards Yugoslavia in the wake of the 1992 civil unrest saw a swift ending of imports to both Britain and America.
The Zastava factory in Kragujevac was later bombed, but was rebuilt after the war ended, and production continued at another factory in Kragujevac.
In 1987, Zastava came up with a new car design. The Zastava Florida – known in other markets as the Yugo Sana – was styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro at the ItalDesign studio, featured a range of refined Peugeot engines, and was mechanically similar to the forthcoming and highly acclaimed Fiat Tipo. It was sold in Britain from 1988 to 1992, but was withdrawn from sale for a number of reasons — particularly the domestic upheavals in Yugoslavia and the fall in popularity of the whole Yugo range in Britain. Sales continued in its homeland, with an update at the end of the 1990s.
Zastava did not launch another new car for another 16 years. The 2003 Zastava 10 model was another Fiat design — this time the second generation Punto. It boasts similar features to the Punto and other cars in its class such as the Volkswagen Polo. It is competitively priced compared to other similar-sized cars, including the Punto on which it is based.
Four years after its launch, the Zastava 10 has not yet been sold outside of the former Yugoslavia.
According to Fiat sources a new memorandum of understanding between Fiat and the Serb ministry of economic and regional development about the acquisition of Zastava's Kragujevac plant foresees a new company being set up in which the Italians would have a 70 percent stake and the Serb government 30 percent. Several models are to be introduced to the plant once its upgrade is complete, including possibly the Fiat 500 and the new low cost vehicle that Fiat is introducing to compete with Renault's Dacia brand.
Once fully bought by Fiat in 2008, the factory was renamed from "Zastava Automobili Srbija" to "Fiat Automobili Srbija" and the production of Fiat cars only has started.
In 2010 and 2011, FAS (Fiat Automobili Srbija) has seen large scale reconstruction. FAS made preparations for the production of new model, code named "ElleZero" (L0). New modern montage line was installed, new production buildings were built, and storage space was expanded. First sample of a new car was taken from the montage line in December 2011. Large scale production is scheduled to start in first quarter of 2011. According to plans factory should meet median production of 300 000 cars annually in 2013. In the same time with company renovation, industrial zone was expanded to accommodate space for cooperant companies in Customs Free zone „Grošnica“, initially planned to be built on location „Korman Polje“.
It is expected that a new car model, codenamed Fiat "ElleZero", will be produced in Serbia sometime in 2012.
Polski Fiat/FSO (Poland)
Fiat automobiles have been made in Poland since 1920. In 1932, the
Polskie Zakłady Inżynieryjne (Polish Engineering Works, PZInż) started the production of
Fiat 508, produced until 1939 also as a military vehicle. In 1936 the licence was extended to include the
Fiat 518 model. In 1965, the Polish communist government signed a deal with Fiat to produce selected Fiat models in Poland at the
FSO factory in
Warsaw that had been built in 1951. Production of the new car — the
Polski Fiat 125p – began in 1967. It was visually identical to the
Fiat 125, but it made use of older Fiat mechanicals which dated back to 1960. The car sold well in its homeland and was soon exported to Western Europe. In 1978 it appeared on a new five-door hatchback, the
FSO Polonez, that made use of Fiat 125p
running gear. After 1982, Fiat withdrew its licence; since then FSO badge was reinstated.
The Polski Fiat 125p design survived until 1991, by which time almost 1,500,000 had been made in less than 25 years. It was a cheap competitor for similar Eastern European budget cars, and by the time of its demise, many Eastern European carmakers were adopting modern Western style designs in place of the archaic three-box saloons that had barely moved out of the 1960s.
FSO was taken over by Daewoo of South Korea in 1995, by which time the FSO Polonez had been replaced by the Caro, which was little more than a facelift of the 1978 design with underpinnings dating back to 1960. This car was sold in Western Europe until the end of the 1990s, and production finally finished in 2002.
FSO had become independent again in late 2000, after Daewoo went bankrupt and was taken over by General Motors. Despite this, FSO continued to build versions of the Daewoo Matiz and Daewoo Lanos. These cars remain in production to this day, although the target of the factory is to focus on the production of the Chevrolet Aveo which has already been introduced.
The Fabryka Samochodów Małolitrażowych (FSM) in Bielsko-Biała and Tychy started the output of the Fiat 126(p) in 1973 and the Cinquecento in 1991.
In 1992 90% of stock of FSM (Fiat Auto Poland, since 1993) was purchased by Fiat Auto. since then it produced Cinquecento, Uno, Seicento, Siena and Palio Weekend models with the capacity up to 200.000 cars a year. In 2003, FSM become the sole producer of Fiat Panda, and in 2007 of new Fiat 500 model. The capacity was increased to ca. 280.000 cars a year, and due to new investments in 2006–2007 will reach over half a million in 2008. This will enable Fiat Auto Poland to include a new model of the Ford Ka, a joint Ford-Fiat project, in its production. It is worth noting both Panda and 500 were selected European car of the year, respectively in 2004 and 2008.
Other Fiat investment in Poland is a joint Fiat-GM venture of Powertrain, producing multijet (see JTD engine) car engines both for Fiat and GM models.
AutoVAZ Lada (Russia)
In 1966, Fiat helped
USSR state industries build a new car factory (
AvtoVAZ) on the
Volga river. A planned city called
Tolyatti (named after
Palmiro Togliatti, former
Italian Communist Party Secretary) was developed around the factory, which started producing a "people's car" similar to the
Volkswagen Beetle and
Citroën 2CV of Germany and France. The new Soviet car, called the
Lada, was a more spacious offering, in
four-door saloon and
five-door estate variants. Fiat installed British machine tools supplied by Herbert-BSA of
Birmingham for the manufacture of many Lada parts. The 124's design was mechanically upgraded to survive treacherous Russian driving conditions and extremely cold winters. Imports to Western Europe, Canada, and some third world countries sold well owing to their low price. This car was upgraded to become the
Lada Riva (marketing name in some markets) in 1980.
The four-wheel drive Lada Niva uses some Fiat based components, e.g. engine and gearbox, but the body and four-wheel drive system are VAZ designs.
Sollers
In June 2008 Fiat and
Severstal's
Sollers JSC formalised a number of joint ventures to make and sell Fiat cars and engines in Russia.
In June 2011 Sollers JSC declined previous agreements with Fiat and announced that a joint venture would be created with Ford motor company.
Bulgaria
1967–1971 produced
Pirin-Fiat in
Lovech, Bulgaria.
Tofaş (Turkey)
Tofaş is joint venture owned by Fiat SpA and Koç Holding (37.8% Fiat Group Automobiles, 37.8% Koc and 24.3% others). The Fiat 124 was produced under licence by
Tofaş as the
Tofaş Murat. This was replaced by a version of the
Fiat 131, known as the
Tofaş Şahin. Today the Fiat Linea car is amongst those manufactured by the Fiat-Tofas joint venture in Turkey, and the company has 12.1% of the Turkish car market as of 2007.
SEAT (Spain)
In Spain,
SEAT – Sociedad Española de Automóviles de Turismo (Spanish Touring Car Company) was established with Fiat assistance in 1950, producing Fiat models under its own brand name until 1981, when Fiat withdrew its support. In 1982 SEAT signed a cooperation agreement with the German manufacturer
Volkswagen and by the end of 1986 after a purchase of a majority stake SEAT had become part of the
Volkswagen Group. However, production of some Fiat-based models continued, ending with the Fiat-based SEAT (the
Marbella) in 1996.
South Africa
In South Africa, the
Fiat Uno was assembled under licence by
Nissan, which marketed it through its dealerships as the Uno, with limited Fiat branding.
Ethiopia
The
Fiat 131, known as the
Holland Car DOCC.
Egypt
Following the
Egyptian Revolution of 1952, President
Gamal Abdel Nasser ordered the EGID (General Intelligence Agent) to establish a state owned automobile company.
Nasr was founded in 1960 in Helwan, Egypt. It began producing some Fiat based models, but later produced the
Tofaş Şahin under license by Tofaş. The Fiat 128 last model was built in 2008, while the Şahin is in production in Egypt.
Currently the ''El-Mashreq Company'', a part of the Seoudi Group is the main manufacturer of Alfa Romeo and Fiat vehicles for the Egypt market. The AAV was also an Egypt manufacturer for Fiat. They assembled the Fiat Ritmo in order of Nasr.
India (Premier Automobiles)
Premier Automobiles Limited is a Mumbai-based manufacturer of vehicles founded in 1944. In 1951, the company began producing versions of the
Fiat 500 for the Indian market. This was followed by the
Fiat 1100 in 1954. In 1973, the Premier name was used on its vehicles for the first time, the Premier President, based on the
Fiat 1100 as
Premier Padmini. In 1984, they launched the
Fiat 124-based Premier 118NE and 138D models.
Fiat India Automobiles Private Limited (FIAPL) is a joint venture between Fiat and Mumbai based Tata Motors. It was founded in 1997. Fiat builds the Palio Stile and Palio Stile Multijet in India and imports its Fiat 500 into India from Italy, whereas Fiat has many cars under its hood planned for India like the internationally acclaimed Linea, Grande Punto and Bravo, of which the Linea was released in January 2009 and the Punto in June 2009, both the cars have been well received both by the press and by the public. The Fiat plant is situated in Ranjangaon near Pune in Maharashtra and also manufactures the Tata Indica.
Pakistan
Raja Motors are the authorized manufacturers of Fiat motor vehicles in Pakistan since 1948. The manufacturing started with VESPA scooters in 1948. The project was expanded in 2001 to facilitate assembly-cum-manufacturing of Fiat UNO cars. The production facility is located in Landhi Industrial Area,
Karachi, Pakistan.
Sri Lanka
In 1964–65, the
Ceylon Transport Board contemplated production of buses in
Sri Lanka in collaboration with FIAT. With the change of Government in 1965, the CTB opted for a deal with
British Leyland.
In 1973, entrepreneur Upali Wijewardena's Upali Motor Company began assembly of the so-called 'Upali-FIAT' 128. Production ended with the introduction of the open-market economy in 1978.
North Korea
The North Korean car manufacturer and dealer
Pyeonghwa Motors assembles two Fiat models under licence since 2002: Hwiparam (whistle) – based on the
Fiat Siena, Bbeokgugi (owl) – based on the
Fiat Doblò.
See also
Automotive industry
Automotive industry crisis of 2008–2009
List of aircraft engines
List of Italian companies
Neckar
Simca
References
External links
Category:Motor vehicle manufacturers of Italy
Fiat
Category:Aircraft manufacturers of Italy
Category:Aircraft engine manufacturers of Italy
Category:Companies established in 1899
Category:1899 establishments in Italy
Category:Car manufacturers of Italy
Category:Defence companies of Italy
Category:Electric vehicle manufacturers
Category:Italian brands
Category:Tractor manufacturers of Italy
Category:Turin motor companies
Category:Edwardian era
Category:Motor vehicle engine manufacturers
ar:فيات
az:Fiat
be:Fiat
be-x-old:Fiat
bg:ФИАТ
bs:Fiat
ca:FIAT
cs:FIAT (automobilka)
co:FIAT
da:Fiat
de:Fiat
el:Όμιλος Fiat
es:Fiat
eo:Fiat
fa:فیات
fr:Fiat
hi:फिएट
hr:Fiat
id:Fiat
it:Fiat Group
he:פיאט
ka:Fiat
la:Fiat
lv:Fiat
lt:FIAT
lmo:FIAT
hu:Fiat
nl:FIAT
ja:フィアット
no:Fiat
oc:Fiat
pms:FIAT
pl:FIAT
pt:FIAT
ro:FIAT
ru:Fiat
scn:FIAT
simple:Fiat
sk:Fiat
sl:Fiat
szl:FIAT
so:Fiat
sr:Фијат
fi:Fiat
tr:Fiat
uk:Fiat
vi:Fiat
zh-yue:快意