FIAT Group (acronym from Italian. Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino, Rus. Italian Automobile Factory of Turin) - Italian company producing cars, engines, financial and industrial association. Headquartered in Turin (Piedmont region). On January 1, 2011 «Fiat Group» split into two subsidiaries in two sectors: «Fiat SpA» (passenger transport) and «Fiat Industrial» (industrial trucks). In January 2014, after the consolidation of 100% of the shares of the American Chrysler, Fiat's board of directors decided to establish a new single carmaker Fiat Chrysler Automobiles headquartered in the Netherlands [1].
Founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli was. In 1902, Agnelli became manager of the enterprise, which became one of the world's largest automakers. Signor Agnelli was a retired officer, and in his company he established the army discipline and rigid order. Soon after visiting head of FIAT enterprises Henry Ford Torino was established Europe's first car assembly conveyor. During the First World War and the early postwar years, the concern involved in the release of planes and tanks, such as the Fiat 3000. In 1919-1920 years of the Fiat plant experienced a number of serious strikes organized by the Communist Antonio Gramsci and Palmiro Togliatti. In fact, the management of the concern of Giovanni Agnelli returned only after the coming to power of Benito Mussolini, but in 1945 it was as a supporter of the Nazi regime removed from management. Shortly thereafter, Giovanni Agnelli died. In 1966, after the appointment of the president of Fiat Vittorio Valletta, an agreement was signed to provide technical assistance for the organization of production in the USSR of the Fiat 124, known in our country as the VAZ-2101. In 1969, a group of companies Fiat gained control of the automaker Lancia, founded in 1906 by Vincenzo Lancia (Vincenzo Lancia). In 1979, the holding company also included Autobianchi and Ferrari, were later absorbed by the brand Maserati and Alfa Romeo. By the 1980s, Fiat became the de facto monopoly of the Italian car market. [2] In the 1980s and especially in the 1990s due to problems with the reliability of the prestige of the Fiat brand has fallen dramatically. In 1984, Fiat was forced to withdraw from the market the United States in 1989 - with the Australian market. At the end of the 1990s, Fiat Auto (Automotive Division) became unprofitable. Losses reached a record high in 2002 - 4.2 billion euros. In January 2003, died the permanent president of J.. Agnelli Jr. However, in 2005, Fiat was first in a long time was able to finish the year with a profit. In 2006, Fiat in the European market rose to 7.6%. In 2007, net profit at Fiat increased by 78% - to 2.05 billion euros. In 2007 «Fiat Veicoli Commerciali» underwent a rebranding in «Fiat Professional». In 2008 due to the global economic crisis profit of the group was reduced, but the proportion of Fiat in the European market rose to 8.3%. In 2009, the concern once again faced with serious financial difficulties. Losses at Fiat in the I half of 2009 amounted to 590 million euros, while for the same period a year earlier, the company received a net profit of 1.07 billion euros. [3] Net loss on the basis of the Fiat whole of 2009 amounted to 838 million euros. [4] After the bankruptcy of Chrysler in May 2009, of the shares and the Group's management were transferred to concern Fiat. In early 2014, Fiat agreed to take complete control of Chrysler [5]. The cost of the transaction is 3.65 billion dollars. [6] Unlike cars, Fiat have traditionally strong position in the field of commercial vehicles. In April 2009, Fiat Professional brand has established a historic sales record, reaching 14.9% share of the Western European market. This figure led Fiat to first place among manufacturers of commercial vehicles. International award European Car of the Year, got Fiat's 12 times, more than any other company.