Fiat (an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino, Italy manufactures automotive Turin) is a car manufacturer, based in Turin. It is controlled by the Agnelli family, through the group Ifil.
The control group brands Fiat Auto, Professional Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Ferrari and Maserati and IVECO.
The act of creation 'Società Anonima Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino' was signed on July 11, 1899 at the Palazzo Bricherasio, Turin, Italy. Giovanni Agnelli was a man of action, wanted to quickly establish a large company, of national importance, for the young Italy could redo its backlog on its neighbours industrial french and German. F.I.A.T. Inaugurates its first major factory in 1900, at No. 35 Corso Dante. With an area of 12000 m2, 150 workers produce 24 cars during the year 1900.
In 1902 the company began to acquire its first nobility in motorsport: Fiat introduced the HP 24 Corsa, the first car competition conducted by the manufacturer, the nine Fiat incurred on the Tour of Italy all automobile crossing the finish line, Vincenzo Lancia won the race side-Superga Sassi at the wheel of the Corsa and 24 HP Giovanni Agnelli set a record on Fiat 8 1. 1930, Fiat is already an empire international industrialist. The group has plants on three continents (Europe, Latin America and even Asia). It was also at this time that he created the brand Simca in France | Fiat-Fiat became NSU Neckar in Germany and later SEAT in Spain.
In 1958 it was the economic boom and production rise impressive, driven by the production of automobiles and agricultural machinery.
Beginning in the 1990's, the benefits of Fiat begin to decline, despite the presence of popular models (Panda, Uno, Tipo). Fiat's image for reliability and finishing, fuelled by press often chauvinistic, as in France in particular, makes it more wrong against other manufacturers. This reputation gradually diverting customers and sales decline.
In March 2000 an agreement was signed two phases: General Motors takes, as a first step, 20% stake in Fiat Automobiles division and Fiat SpA Receives in exchange for 6% of the entire group General Motors.
After the death of Gianni Agnelli in 2003, grandson of the founder of Fiat, and then of his brother Umberto Agnelli in 2004, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, Ferrari president, who is called to the presidency of the Fiat Group. This management will soon bear fruit as soon as 2005 and stop the slow descent into hell had known Fiat Auto.