An accurate timeline of the growth and development of the Fiat factory.

- Fiat started in 1899 in a small factory in Turin.

- It had 35 workers and an output of 24 cars.

- Today they are being built in Italy, Poland, Brazil, Argentina, France, Turkey, Egypt, South Africa, India and China.

- They have offices and sales networks in over 100 countries.

They are typically Italian designed cars.

Timeline

1889 – 1911

On 11 July 1899 at Palazzo Bricherasio, the company charter of “Società Anonima Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino” was signed. Among the members of the Board of Directors, Giovanni Agnelli stood out in the group of investors and won recognition for his determination and strategic vision.

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In 1902 he became the Managing Director of the company.

1912 – 1925

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.

1926 – 1938

During the years of Mussolini’s autarchic policy, Fiat too had to rescale its plans for international presence and concentrate on the domestic market. In the Thirties trucks and commercial vehicles underwent considerable technological development and at the same time the aviation and railway sectors grew.

1939 – 1951

During the war years there was a drastic reduction in the production of cars, while the construction of commercial vehicles increased considerably.

1952 – 1964

In 1953 the first Fiat diesel engined vehicle was presented, the 1400 diesel.

1965 – 1977

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.

There was also an increase in trade union conflicts: in 1969 total hours on strike reached 15 million.

1978 – 1990

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.

1991 – 2003

After the debut of the Fiat Tempra in 1990, the 500 came out in 1991.
Two years later, in 1993, it was the moment of Fiat Punto (named “Car of the Year” in 1995) and Fiat Coupé, with bodywork designed by Pininfarina and Centro Stile Fiat.

2004 – 2007

Fiat Idea was the first MPV created by Fiat but also the first car with the task of communicating the brand’s new ‘mission’: Fiat Idea displayed the round logo, renewed and proposed by Centro Stile Fiat to evoke the emblem designed to celebrate the Company’s 100th Anniversary.

It was also meant to get across the most significant change in Fiat car design: more attention to high-tech content and intelligent solutions designed to simplify several aspects of daily life in the car.