The Italian car industy is undoubtefully identified with Fiat Group, which is nowadays among the six largest manufacturers in Europe. Several wellknown acquisitions that had been carried out by Fiat, having started 30 years ago, established Fiat Group as the ultimate dominator in the Italian car industry. Fiat acquired: Lancia, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Maserati keeping under its control 90% of the total Italian car production. Only Lamborghini exist as an autonomous firm against Fiat Group.
Fiat specifies in the manufacture of small cars, which proved to be very useful in “city conditions”. Succesful models have been: 500, 127, Panda, Uno, Punto. Bigger cars are introduce by Lancia, while Alfa Romeo's “ultimate cars” stand as a strong competitor of BMW.
Since 70’s, Fiat’s wealth started to decline and the frequent phenomenon of seeing a huge number Fiat’s models moving in the street changed dramatically: German, American, French and later on Japanese models started to be gradually more and more preferable for European consumers. Subsequently Fiat formed alliances, as the other European companies did. The most outstanding has been that with General Motors. Fiat sold 20% stakes in the American firm in exchange for 5,1% common stock of it.
However it’s potential independence would be a desirable feature for car enthusiasts. Fiat has been always an initiative and innovative firm, introducing applications like laser welding, robotised engines and the first firm that realised “the benefits of cross-brand platform sharing” and the significance of “platform sharing with sufficient deviation”. At the moment Fiat introduces the mass production of space frame chassis, which will allow for greater ,“deviation to its future product line-up”
Reference: http:// www.autozine.kyul.net/Manufacturer/Italy.html
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