The History of an Automotive Giant Fiat and What You Need to Know About Fiat

Fiat brand vehicles are popular today for their affordability and relatively low maintenance costs. However, Fiat is more than just a car brand; it is also one of the major stakeholders in companies like Ferrari, Lancia, and Iveco. The company was founded by Giovanni Agnelli on July 1, 1899, under the name "Giovanni Agnelli Torino Italian Automobile Factory Joint Stock Company." Giovanni Agnelli's motivation for founding this company was the belief that motor vehicles would replace horse-drawn carriages, which were commonly used for transportation at that time.

Shortly after its founding, the company opened its first factory in Turin in 1900. The first model produced by the company had a rear-mounted engine and was developed by Aristide Faccioli. In 1902, the company introduced the 24 HP Corsa model, which gained fame by winning the first hill climb race in the field of motorsports.

Fiat's Global Expansion

In 1908, the company introduced the Model 1F, where the transmission and engine were housed in a single box. This vehicle was widely used not only in Italy but also in Paris, New York, and London. In 1910, Fiat established its first factory in the United States. In this factory, the company began producing larger vehicle models and introduced the Zero model in 1912, the first four-passenger car, which it exported to Europe. This model had a four- or six-cylinder engine and a body that could accommodate four passengers.

Before the outbreak of World War I, the company had also opened a branch in Russia. When the war broke out, Fiat shifted its focus from civilian vehicle production to manufacturing military trucks for the Italian army. In 1919, the company returned to civilian vehicle production with the introduction of the 501 model, which sold more than 80,000 units worldwide. The export version of the car was named the 502 and came in both two- and four-door options.

In 1920, Fiat managed to increase engine efficiency by up to 30% with the development of a four-speed manual transmission. In 1922, Fiat opened a five-story factory in Lingotto, which featured a test track on the roof. In the same year, the company also developed a servo-driven braking system that applied force to all wheels. Additionally, Fiat introduced a steering system with adjustable height and depth. With these innovations, Fiat began developing the 519 model, which featured a six-cylinder engine with overhead valves. Over the years, Fiat continued to improve engine efficiency and enhance vehicle ergonomics. In 1925, the Fiat 509 model was introduced, becoming one of the most popular cars of its time. The 509 models could reach speeds of up to 70 kilometres per hour and incorporated nearly every feature that people expected from a car at that time.