Italian Car Brands – All Italian Car Manufacturers

Italian automobile industry has a long and glorious history, full of engineering innovations, great designs and motorsport victories. Manufacturers from Italy are best known for producing mass market compact models as well as luxurious sport cars. For many years Italian cars have been considered the benchmark in automotive engineering and design, with the FIAT models replicated by companies in the Soviet Union, Spain, Turkey and other countries, while such brands as Ferrari, Lamborghini or Alfa Romeo have set standards in supercar and racing car segments. Here is the list of active Italian car manufacturers.

Major Italian car companies and manufacturers

Italian car industry has seen some of the most influential brands in automotive world reach success and go through bankruptcy. Nowadays most of the major car companies in the country are united under Fiat Chrysler Automobiles ownership and aspire for new heights in the business.

FIAT

Founded: 11 July 1899
Founder: Giovanni Agnelli
Headquarters: Turin, Piedmont, Italy
Parent: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
Owner: FCA Italy
Website: www.fiat.com

FIAT, short for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili di Torino, is the largest Italian car manufacturer and one of the oldest brands in the industry, founded in 1899. The company has enjoyed success in compact class with Europe being the main market throughout the history. From 1908 the Italian manufacturer ran a plant in the United States and sold its vehicles in North America, but was forced to leave the continent in 1983 due to decreased reputation and, consequently, sales numbers.

FIAT used to be considered a benchmark in engineering and car design and its models inspired several manufacturers in the Soviet Union, Europe, South America and Asia for replica vehicles. Having merged with Chrysler, the brand is now owned by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and its vehicles are marketed in the United States under both FIAT (supermini 500) and Ram trademarks. The company has also expanded its business to developing countries, such as Brazil or China and sells over 2 million vehicles per year worldwide.

Alfa Romeo

Founded: 24 June 1910
Founder: Alexandre Darracq; Ugo Stella; Nicola Romeo
Headquarters: Turin, Piedmont, Italy
Parent: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
Owner: FCA Italy
Website: www.alfaromeo.com

Alfa Romeo is a legendary Italian manufacturer of sports and family cars. Founded in 1910 by Alexandre Darracq and Nicola Romeo, the company was destined to participate in motor racing. Ever since Alfa Romeo has won numerous titles in various races, including Mille Miglia, Formula One, 24 Hours of Le Mans, European Touring Car Championships and many more. The company also produced aircraft engines, trucks, buses and other commercial vehicles.

Today Alfa Romeo is owned by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and its vehicles continue the company’s tradition to create stylish cars for passionate customers. Its lineup consists of four models, supermini MiTo, hatchback Giulietta, sports car 4C and the recently launched sedan Giulia, which is set to boost the brand’s sales, including in the North American market.

Lancia

Founded: 29 November 1906
Founder: Vincenzo Lancia
Headquarters: Turin, Italy
Parent: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
Owner: FCA Italy
Website: www.lancia.com

Lancia is another honored Italian car manufacturer, subsidiary of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Founded in 1906 by two Fiat racing drivers, Lancia earned reputation for introducing engineering innovations, classy designs and success in motorsports. The company takes pride in developing V-engines, independent suspension, presenting the first 5-speed gearbox and other contributions to the automotive industry.

Lancia used to produce commercial vehicles, such as trucks, buses and trolleybuses, military vehicles. It is also renowned for glorious years in racing, particularly rally. Such models as Fulvia, Stratos, 037 and unbelievable Delta Integrale have made Lancia the most successful rallying manufacturer in history. However, the company has struggled to adapt to modern business and its lineup has been reduced to just two models, supermini Ypsilon and a rebadged Chrysler-Dodge MPV named Voyager. Italy is set to remain Lancia’s only market in the nearest future.

Maserati

Founded: December 1, 1914
Founder: Alfieri Maserati
Headquarters: Modena, Italy
Parent: Parent Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, NV
Website: www.maserati.com

Maserati is a renowned Italian manfacturer of luxurious executive cars featuring lavish interiors and potent powertrains. Their vehicles are easily identified by the trident on radiator grill and exquisite design. In 1914 The Maserati brothers founded an automobile company in Bologna to create competitive racing cars. The idea proved to be successful with their cars winning multiple races, being driven by some of the most glorious drivers in history, including Juan-Manuel Fangio.

During its long history Maserati has gone through ups and downs, was owned by Citroen, De Tomaso, Ferrari and finally emerged from racing cars into luxury performance cars under Fiat Chrysler Group. The latest 4-door executive saloon Ghibli has boosted the brand’s sales and changed its fortunes. The other models are luxury saloon Quattroporte, sports tourer GranTurismo and convertible GranCabrio. Maserati have also announced the arrival of an SUV named Levante in 2016.

Ferrari

Founded: 13 September 1939
Founder: Enzo Ferrari
Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands (de jure)
Owner: Exor N.V. (22.91%); Piero Ferrari (10.00%); Public (67.09%)
Website: www.ferrari.com

Let’s face it: whenever you hear of an Italian car, it is Ferrari and its prancing horse emblem that pop up to your mind in the first place. And it’s arguably the hottest car brand you can think of. It all started in 1929 when Enzo Ferrari founded Scuderia Ferrari to produce race cars. However, it was not before the end of World War II that he built his first street-legal car.

Since those times Ferrari has turned into the most successful manufacturer in Formula One races and has become a symbol of speed and wealth, with its mostly red-colored sports cars gracing the richest cities and fastest tracks around the world. Since 1969 Ferrari has been owned by FIAT and is now part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. The current lineup consists of 458 and 488 sports cars, California, FF and F12 grand tourers and the ultimate hybrid-powered hypercar LaFerrari.

Lamborghini

Founded: 1963
Founder: Ferruccio Lamborghini
Headquarters: Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy
Parent: Audi
Owner: Volkswagen Group
Website: www.lamborghini.com

Lamborghini is Ferrari’s main rival and one of the few Italian car manufacturers, not owned by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Since 1998 it has been owned by Volkswagen Group through Audi AG. The company was established in 1963 by Ferruccio Lamborghini, whose aim was to compete against the best sports car manufacturers of the time. However, unlike most of its rivals, Lamborghini has never really got involved in motorsports apart from delivering its engines for Formula One teams and powerboat competitions.

Instead, the company developed its own strong identity, producing two ranges of sports cars for most of its history. The first one is a line of V8-powered cars, while the other one, featuring monstrous naturally aspirated V12 engines, is what has turned Lamborghini into one of the most respected and desired sports car manufacturers in the world. These fantastic cars are Miura, Countach, Diablo, Murcielago and Aventador.

List of Minor Present Italian Car Companies

Italy is also proud to have numerous automobile design and engineering studios, small car companies that play an important part in automotive industry.

Pagani

Founded: 1992
Founder: Horacio Pagani
Headquarters: San Cesario sul Panaro, MO, Italy
Website: www.pagani.com

Pagani has only been in sports car business since 1992, yet managed to earn the reputation for building some of the most ultimate racing vehicles in the world. Their cars feature carbon fiber bodies, Mercedes AMG V12 Bi-Turbo engines and extreme level of finishing. Pagani’s two models, Zonda and Huayra, have shown incredible times on the world’s best tracks and are renowned for raw driving sensations.

Abarth

Founded: 31 March 1949
Founder: Carlo Abarth
Headquarters: Turin, Italy
Parent Company: *
Parent: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
Owner: FCA Italy
Website: www.abarth.it

Abarth is a subsidiary of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and is widely known for producing performance kits and accessories for other Italian manufacturers, such as FIAT or Lancia. However, the company used to build its own racing vehicles before FIAT takeover.

Casalini

Founded: 1939
Founder: Giovanni Casalini
Headquarters: Piacenza

Casalini is a manufacturer of microcars and mopeds, based in Piacenza. The microcars normally feature fiber plastic and glass bodies and are powered by tiny diesel engines.

Covini

Founded: 1978
Founder: Ferruccio Covini
Headquarters: Italian
Website: www.covini.it

Covini is a small manufacturer of avant-garde cars, which is best known for a six-wheeled sports car Covini C6W.

Ducati

Founded: 1926
Founder: Antonio Cavalieri Ducati; Adriano Cavalieri Ducati; Bruno Cavalieri Ducati; Marcello Cavalieri Ducati
Headquarters: Bologna, Italy
Parent: Lamborghini
Website: www.ducati.com

The history of Ducati logo goes back to 1924 when the student Adriano Ducati established The Ducati Scientific Society for Radios and Patents with his brothers Bruno and Marcello. Initially, they supplied hardware for the radio market. In 1946 “Cucciolo” motorcycle was made, and in 1949, the Ducati started mass production of bikes.

In 1956 its logo used to have a laurel wreath which shaped the “D” of the name and structures with it a round figure. From 1959 to 1975, Ducati used to have wings and an eagle on its logotype constantly changing fonts. In 2008 the new logo was made in the studio Landor of Milano; the new logo praises the beauty of the curve, speed and moment. Ducati can rouse incredible and great emotions. The curve is engraved in a red title, a symbol of triumph and of the Italian enthusiasm for sports.

Iveco

Founded: 1975
Headquarters: Turin, Piedmont, Italy
Parent: CNH Industrial
Website: www.iveco.com

Iveco, an abbreviation for Industrial Vehicles Corporation, is an Italian modern vehicle producing organization situated in Turin, Italy, and completely owned by CNH Industrial Group. It designs and assembles light, medium and large business vehicles, quarry/building site vehicles, city and intercity transports and unique vehicles for special applications, for example, firefighting, rough terrain missions, the military, and civil protection.

Iveco logotype is minimalistic and simple: it just comprises the company’s name being present in two color variations: blue and silver.

De Tomaso

Founded: 1959
Founder: Alejandro de Tomaso
Headquarters: Modena, Italy
Website: detomasodc.co.uk

De Tomaso Modena SpA was an Italian vehicle producing organization. It was established by the Argentine-born Alejandro de Tomaso in Modena in 1959. During the period of 1976 to 1993, De Tomaso owned Maserati and was in charge of delivering autos including the Biturbo, the Kyalami, Quattroporte III, Karif, and the Chrysler TC.

In 2009, the De Tomaso trademark was purchased by Gian Mario Rossignolo who established another organization named De Tomaso Automobili SpA. Now, it produces hybrids, limousines, and two-seater sports autos.

The new emblem was designed by Peter Arnell, the main developer in the company. The blue and white colors represent the flag of Argentina – founder’s motherland. The fancy “T” letter refers to De Tomaso.

Automobili Pininfarina

Founded: 2018
Founder: Michael Perschke
Headquarters: Munich, Germany
Parent company: Mahindra Group
Website: www.automobili-pininfarina.com

Automobili Pininfarina is the subsidiary of Mahindra Group that specializes on production of electric race cars and battery crossovers. its flagman product is Battista, the first Pininfarina-branded high-performance luxury electric sports car. In 2020, the company plans to launch “ultra-low volume zero-emissions luxury hypercar codenamed PF0”.

Puritalia

Founded: 2010
Headquarters: Naples, Campania, Italy
Website: httpss://www.puritalia.com

Puritalia is an automobile company that was founded in 2010 and produces luxury sports cars, custom-made and in limited series. Its flagman product is Puritalia Berlinetta, a hybrid grand tourer that was present at Geneva Motor Show in 2019. The company also develops electric motors and battery-driven cars.

Amilcar Italiana

Founded: 1921
Headquarters: Italy

Amilcar Italiana is actually a brand that was developed by two independent companies: General Automative Company (CGA) and SILVA. The company was established to produce non-expensive, highly productive French automobiles in Rome. In 1927, the company reached the peak of its financial success, but after launch of Fiat 509, Italians lost interest to the French-styles cars which resulted into the crisis.

Ghia

Founded: 1916
Founder: Giacinto Ghia
Headquarters: Turin, Italy

Ghia is an Italian automobile company and coachbuilding firm that initially created lightweight aluminum bodies cars and even achieved success with designing the bodies for Alfa Romeo, Fiat, and Lancia. One of the most famous models is Ghia L6.4, the production of which ended in 1963. Ghia cars were popular all among Europe, but the production was discontinued in 2008.

ARCA

ARCA car series started being produced in 1953 by four manufacturers: Chevrolet, Ford, Toyota, and Dodge. The American car stock series included cars for national touring series of NASCAR. ARCA cars participate in the most famous races, as well as dirt tracks. Since 2010, ARCA Racing Series has been presented by Menards.