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.

In the meantime Fiat expanded its activities to the steel industry, the railway, electricity and public transportation lines. Fiat Lubrificanti was established and the first Italian subsidiary was opened in Russia. When the War broke out, company production was almost entirely aimed at supplying the army.

After the war there were years of transformation and crisis but as early as 1923 growth resumed thanks to an effective cost-curbing policy. Giovanni Agnelli became the CEO. Numerous car models were launched, among which the 509, the first car with four seats.

The policy adopted by the company was to develop industrial mass production. Mass production was launched as the only way to curb the prohibitive prices of cars. During a phase of increasing consumption, Sava, a holding company was set up to promote instalment plans for purchasing cars. IFI, Istituto Finanziario Industriale, was also established at that time.

These years were also significant for the internal growth of Fiat. Numerous organizations for employees were established: from health care to specialized schools to sports clubs.

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.

In 1934 and 1936 two cars came out and were destined to an enormous public: the “Balilla”, also called “Tariffa minima” due to its low consumption of fuel, and the “Topolino”, the smallest utilitarian car in the world, which was produced until 1955.

In 1937 works started for the great Mirafiori plant, which introduced the most advanced principles of industrial organisation and confirmed company focus on mass production.

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

In 1945 Senator Giovanni Agnelli died and the presidency of the Fiat was assumed by Vittorio Valletta.

In 1948 the reconstruction of the plants destroyed during the war was completed, also thanks to the American subsidies from the Marshall plan. Profits started to grow and the number of employees also increased.

With two new cars such as the 500 and the 1400, Fiat confirmed its commitment to research and innovation. For the first time the heating and ventilation systems were installed in mass production. Research continued on marine and aircraft engines: in 1951 the first Italian jet aircraft came into being, the G80.

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

In 1958 production started growing enormously, both for automobiles and farm machinery. Mirafiori doubled its factories and Fiat set up new manufacturing plants abroad as well. In Italy this was the period of the economic boom and the auto sector was the 'driving force' of the economy.

In 1955 the Fiat 600 was born, a big utilitarian car with a rear mounted engine. In 1957 the New 500 was presented and in 1960 it began to be produced in the 'Giardinetta' version, a precursor of the Station Wagon style. Moreover, these were the years of Fiat 1800, then 1300 and 1500.

At the 1950 Turin Show a prototype Sport Coupe on the 2100 chassis was exhibited by the coachbuilder Ghia. In the autumn of the following year this model was officially added to the Fiat range. Two versions were manufactured. One with 2300 engine; the other version was the 2300S.

Another Fiat exhibit at the 1967 Geneva Show was a closed version of the Dino- a four-seat Coupe designed and produced by Bertone. The mechanical specification was identical with what of the Spider, buy the wheelbase was longer.

Fiat’s last innovation for 1972 was the Spider Coupe launched at the end of November. Powered by the <128 Sport 1300> engine it is, however, totally different in mechanical detail and in layout. It is in fact a mid-engined car with the engine arranged across the frame.

The 124 Sport Spider made its bow at the 1966 Turin Show. The body was designed and manufactured by Pininfarina, while the engine was especially interesting, since it consisted of a 1,438 cc; four-cylinder unit with toothed belt drive to twin overhead camshafts. The five-speed gearbox was also noteworthy.

After Fiat 850, a new popular utilitarian car, the 127, made its debut in 1971.

In 1966 Giovanni Agnelli, the grandson of the founder, became President of the company. In those years there was a trend toward increased automation of the manufacturing processes to cope with the oil crisis and to continue on the road of technological innovation.

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.

In 1979 the auto sector was set up as an independent company: Fiat Auto S.p.A., which included the brands Fiat, Lancia, Autobianchi, Abarth, Ferrari. The Ferrari brand was acquired at 50% initially, a share that later rose to 87%. In 1984 the company also took over Alfa Romeo (following by Maserati acquisition - a prestigious sports car brand - in 1993).

Fiat’s numerous operations were set up as independent companies. Alongside Fiat Auto the following companies were founded: Fiat Ferroviaria, Fiat Avio, Fiat Trattori, Fiat Engineering, Comau, Teksid, Magneti Marelli.

In 1980 a new utilitarian was styled by Giugiaro for Fiat and was called Panda. Two years later the car that would become the emblem of Fiat Auto’s renewal was born: the Fiat Uno. It featured radical innovations in its electronics, choice of materials and the use of a clean engine: the 1000 Fire.

Another successful model appeared in 1989: the Tipo, voted “Car of the year” for its cutting-edge technical solutions. Its production marked a conquest of Fiat technology: production by processing stations.

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.

With Fiat Ulysse, which came out in 1994, the company made its entry in a sector that was progressively expanding: the SUV. 1995 saw the debut of the Barchetta, the Fiat Bravo and Brava, followed the next year by Fiat Marea and Marea WE, and in 1997 Fiat Palio.

In 1996 Giovanni Agnelli became the Honorary President of the Fiat Group and CesareRomiti took the office of CEO. In 1997 the parent company left its premises in Corso Marconi and moved to the Palazzina Fiat of Lingotto, which in the meantime had been converted into a Trade Fair and Convention Complex.

1998 was the year of Fiat Seicento, ideal for city driving, and the Multipla, characterised by flexible use and uncommon versatility. Two years later, at the Paris Motor Show, Fiat Doblò was presented: a young car, informal, that also served the functions of a commercial vehicle. Meanwhile, in Brazil, the three world cars were launched: the Palio, Palio Weekend and Siena.In 2001 Fiat Stilo was launched, characterized by a new design, with sophisticated technology and numerous deluxe options; the following year Fiat Multipla, New Fiat Ulysse and Fiat Stilo Multi Wagon were restyled.In 2003 – the year that saw the sad death of Giovanni Agnelli, who had been at the helm of Fiat for almost half a century - the new Punto was marketed (exactly 10 years after the model was first launched) with the innovative 1.3 Multijet 16v, and the new Barchetta was restyled inside and out.In the autumn Fiat reclaimed its leading position in the super-compact segment with the new Panda, immediately awarded the prize '2004 Car of the Year'.

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.

Fuel saving and top performing, this engine proved a real success factor on the new Fiat car models.The new system – born of the evolution of the ‘Common Rail’ principle – is the basis of the new second-generation Fiat engines: the small 1.3 Multijet 16v, the sporty 1.9 Multijet 120 and 150 bhp and the powerful 1.4 90 bhp.

The years 2004-2006 were an extremely busy time for the Turin company, which, following a profound change in corporate culture and mentality, focused on a continuous, rapid overhaul of its products, on technological research, on the quality of its designs and on a new, constructive relationship with the customer.During these years, this new philosophy gave rise to a series of new models, and some restyling of older models: from the restyling of the Fiat Idea Model Year, Seicento MY and Stilo MY to the new Multipla and the launch of the Panda 4x4, in 2004; 2005 began with the launch of the new Croma, designed by Giugiaro, the new 600 (celebrating its 50th anniversary), and the Grande Punto - beautiful, solid and exciting.2006 saw the launch of the New Doblò and Sedici, the 4x4xTUTTI for city and off-road driving, and the official car of the 2006 Olympic Winter Games, while the Panda MY 2007 range was extended and overhauled.

2007 began with the launch of the Bravo – preceded by the first ever institutional Fiat blog. Bravo is the first car to sport the new Fiat logo as a tangible sign of the company’s turnaround. The new Bravo is a successful blend of beauty and substance, destined to become a benchmark for the segment.

On July 4 2007, exactly 50 years after the launch of the original 500, the new Fiat 500 made its debut in Turin.It is the first ‘small’ car with an individualistic concept,allowing the consumer to tailor-make their 500 with more the 500000 available variants. Following its launch, the 500 won numerous awards, such as the European Car of the Year In 2008.Numerous limited editions and versions have been created: new Fiat 500

In July 2010, Twin Air-the first of a new family world’s high tech two-cylinder engines made by FPT-Fiat Powertrain Technologies waslaunched through Fiat 500 model.This technology implements the revolutionary MultiAir system combined with specific fluid dynamics optimised for maximum fuel efficiency. Furthermore,by taking the concept of downsizing to the extreme and masterfully tuning the basic mechanics, the new Twin Air engine family-delivering from 65 to 105 HP-emits 30% less CO2 than an engine of equal performance.

Fiat cars becomes more eco-friendly with low pollutant and CO2 emission levels. With Fiat Eco-drive, Methane engines, Start &Stop, MultiJet, TwinAir, the Fiat Group’s sustainability strategy has resulted in a combination of conventional and ernative technologies. Brand Fiat made also its move in the electric cars field with the launch of Fiat 500 E (with 0 CO2 emissions) on July 2013 in USA.

Since the launch in summer 2012 of Fiat 500L, the grown up 500, the 500 family have been keeping enlarging. 500L Trekking, the 500 with more space and the adventurous vibe,and 500L Living, the functional nameplate of the family, have joined. They all bring the same qualities of 500: coolness, youthful, energy, audacy design, simply in more space.

Fiat has brought its passion not only to the "Old Continent", but also in Northern America-with the launch of Fiat in USA in 2009 and Asia. In Asia we highlight the creation of the new joint venture GacFiat in 2010.After the importation of Fiat Bravo, Fiat 500 and Fiat Freemont, in 2012 it was launched Viaggio-first tailormade sedan for China market-produced in GacFiat jointventure factory located in Changsha. This factory adopts the standards of World Class Manufactory as all the factories from Fiat and Chrysler.t.