Fiat

Fiat 500

© photo courtesy of: Fiat

The Fiat 4 HPFiat 3.5 HP / 4 HPItaly, 1899 > 19003 photos
automobile was the company’s first model; Fiat’s first truck would be come out in 1903. Then, in 1908, Fiat built its first aircraft engine and began exporting its cars to the United States. By that time, you could also find many Fiat cars as taxis, which became popular all around Europe.
By 1910, Fiat was already the most important car company in Italy and it remained that way ever since.

Fiat factories were forced to comply with the war efforts of the two world conflicts. During the First World War, Fiat supplied the Allies by producing aircrafts, engines, weapons, machinery, trucks and ambulances. At the World War II, Fiat’s military equipments and vehicles were built to provide for the Italian Air Force and Army, as well as for the German Army.

Nowadays, the Italian company builds wide variety of vehicle models: small and mid-sized city cars, different sizes commercial vehicles and even sports cars. The Fiat Group retains the position of largest automotive producer in Italy, in which are incorporated the companies Fiat Group Automobiles, FerrariFerrariItaly, 1947 > present233 models
5131 photos
37 videos
, MaseratiMaseratiItaly, 1914 > present62 models
696 photos
7 videos
and IvecoIvecoItaly, 1975 > present1 model
141 photos
1 video
. Within the Fiat Group Automobiles’ holding, you can also find the car brands Fiat Automobiles, Fiat Professional, Alfa RomeoAlfa RomeoItaly, 1910 > present108 models
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7 videos
, LanciaLanciaItaly, 1906 > present60 models
773 photos
4 videos
and Abarth&CAbarthItaly, 1949 > present30 models
279 photos
3 videos
.

Fiat also operates largely outside Italy, in 61 countries worldwide. With its models, the Italian company has been awarded 12 times with the European Car of the Year prize, which is more than any other carmaker has ever done.

Fiat Logo until 1999

© photo courtesy of: Fiat

Starting with its first emblem from 1899, Fiat’s identifying draft has undergone many alterations and redesigns throughout the decades. The brand’s most recent and current logo was made official in 2007.

Fiat Logo since 2007

© photo courtesy of: Fiat

However, there is no doubt that the most legendary and well-known Fiat emblem is the ‘scrabble tiles’ sketch with the letters F-I-A-T that first appeared on the 1982 Fiat UnoFiat UnoItaly, 1983 > 20073 series
40 versions
38 photos
. Fiat’s chief designer at that time, Mario Maioli, allegedly came up with the inspiration for that logo the night he was driving past the company’s factory at Mirafiori, during a power outage. When he looked up to the top of the building he saw the neon sign outlined against the dark sky, where he could read the letters FIAT.

The very famous ‘scrabble piece’ logo was dropped in 1999 in favour of the round shield that the brand had used in the 1920’s with the letters FIAT in the middle. The only significant difference to the 1999 draft is the blue background within the round silver border, which replaces the ancient logo’s red background. This big change on the company’s symbol came to celebrate Fiat’s 100th anniversary (1999).

Nevertheless, Fiat didn’t keep the blue-backgrounded round shield logo for much longer, as in 2007 the company decided to change its symbolic mark again. The encircling silver line underwent some retouches and got thickened, while the background recovered the red colour of the 1920’s Fiat logo.