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Brief History of Marque

During this period, Fiat Ferroviaria and Iveco enjoyed exceptional growth. Fiat Ferroviaria developed sophisticated technologies for the construction of tilting, independent-wheel railway bogeys, which will later enable it to build the Pendolino, a high-speed train for which it received important orders from customers in many European countries. Iveco became the international brand for the Group's commercial vehicles. Created in 1974, the Iveco brand replaced the Fiat, OM, Lancia, Magirus and Unic brands. After 1991, Pegaso, a Spanish brand, was also replaced with Iveco.

In 1983, the Uno, the automobile that symbolised the renewal of Fiat Auto, was unveiled at Cape Canaveral. This car, which featured radical innovations in electronics, in the use of alternative materials and in engine technology, with the adoption of the Fire 1000 clean powerplant, enjoyed a production run totalling 6,272,796 units. The following year Fiat Auto S.p.A. acquired Alfa Romeo S.p.A and its affiliates. In 1993, it added the prestigious Maserati sports cars, completing its current roster of automobile brands. The company continued to enter into numerous international agreements for the manufacturer of Fiat products under license and to expand its portfolio of investments, with special emphasis on industrial activities in the areas of telecommunications and components. In this field, through a series of acquisition and divestitures, the Group created a new organisation. By 1987, Magneti Marelli had become an industrial holding company that controlled and supervised over 60 companies throughout the world. The growing importance of electronics pushed component manufacturers to the forefront in the development of personal mobility alternatives.

In 1989, the international press named the Fiat Tipo "Car of the Year" because of its innovative characteristics. With changing values came a new perception of the function of the automobile and the maturing of the industrial society brought new urgency to environmental concerns. Fiat addressed these issues by development a program for the recovery and total recycling of cars ready for demolition. In 1991, constructions of two new plants got under way at Pratola Serra and Melfi. These facilities, which went on stream in 1994, embodied a revolutionary approach to industrial production methods.

The Fiat Group responded to the crisis of the early 90's by expanding its international presence (exports came to account for more than 60%) of revenues), carrying out a major capital increase, making massive investments in innovation and implementing incisive cost cutting measures and a drastic restructuring program. On February 28, 1996, Giovanni Agnelli was named Honorary Chairman of the Fiat Group and Cesare Romiti took over as Chairman of the Board of Directors, a post he was to hold until 1998, when Paolo Fresco took the helm. Paolo Cantarella was appointed Chief Executive Officer. During this period, Fiat introduced the Punto, an innovative car conceived as a European automobile. In 1995, the Punto was named "Car of the Year". In 1998, the Panda reached its eighteenth year of production, ranking as one of the most enduring car models. In September 1997, Fiat S.p.A., the Group's parent company, started the process of closing its offices at Corso Marconi and moving its operations to the Fiat Building at the Lingotto Complex, which had been transformed into a trade-show and convention centre.

At the end of the 90's, competition grew increasingly fierce in the Western markets. As products manufactured in Southeast Asia flooded Europe, Fiat responded by emphasising its traditional strategy and focusing on emerging markets. The Group expanded its factories in Brazil and Argentina and introduced the Palio, a world car designed so that it could be easily reconfigured to meet the needs of different users and markets. Fiat quickly became the largest carmaker in Brazil, Argentina, Poland and Turkey. In 1991, the Construction Equipment Sector expanded its international presence by acquiring the tractor and agricultural equipment operations of the Ford Motor Company and adopted the New Holland brand. In 1993, it concluded an agreement with Hitachi Co. Machinery Ltd. and expanded its existing joint ventures, becoming one of the world's largest producers, with about 20% of the global market.

Iveco strengthened its leadership position I Europe, enhanced its product range with the introduction of the EuroTech, EuroStar and EuroCargo lines and established joint ventures and manufacturing units in India and China that produce Daily light commercial vehicles. On the eve of the new millennium, the Fiat Group is proud of its achievements as an Italian and global industrial enterprise, with a powerful position in the world markets and a tradition of expertise and innovation developed in the course of its one hundred-year history.

Article reproduced courtesy of FIAT

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