Automobile industry in Italy

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Fiat 3½HP (1899) is the first model of car produced by Fiat.
Map of automobile industry in Turin, Italy in the 1910s.


The automobile industry in Italy (formerly the vehicle industry in Italy) is a quite large employer in the country, with a labour force of over 196,000 (2004) working in the industry.

Italy is the 5th largest automobile producer in Europe (2006). Today the Italian automotive industry is almost totally dominated by Fiat Group, in 2001 over 90% of vehicles were produced by it. Italian automotive part industry covered over 2,131 firms and employed almost 250,000 people in 2006. Italy's automotive industry is best known of its automobile designs and small city cars, sports and supercars. The automotive industry makes a significant 8.5% to Italian GDP.


History

The beginnings

The automobile industry in Italy started little bit later than in France, the Stefanini-Martina of 1896 is thought of as the foundation of the industry. Enrico Bernardi built petrol fuelled tri-cycle car in 1884. Fiat SpA was founded in 1899 and built its first car in same year the 3½HP (or 4HP) with a 679 cc engine and capable of 35km/h.

The Isotta Fraschini was founded in 1900 assembling first Renault models.

Soon the automobile industry was getting bigger and many companies were founded: Zust,Lancia, Aquila Italiana, Diatto, Itala, SPA and Società Anonima Italiana Darracq.


Production figures

Italian motor vehicle production 1997-2006
(100,000 units)
Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19  
1997   1827592
1998   1692737
1999   1704326
2000   1741478
2001   1581908
2002   1429678
2003   1324481
2004   1145181
2005   1038352
2006   1211594
Italian motor vehicle production 1961-1996
(100,000 units)
Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19  
1961   759000
1971   181700
1981   143300
1991   187800
1994   153400
1995   166700
1996   154500
Italian motor vehicle production 1913-1935
(1,000 units)
Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19  
1913   2
1924   35
1928   55
1935   44


Car Information and Photos by Marque: A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Italian automobile manufacturers include:

Defunct manufacturers: