Fiat, a well-known car brand, has been around since 1899. However, many drivers are only just discovering what the name Fiat actually stands for.
The Italian car manufacturer was founded by Giovanni Agnelli and produced its first car, the Fiat 3 1/2 HP, 125 years ago. In recent times, Fiat's Fiat 500 model has become a best-seller in 11 European countries, The Mirror US reports.
The cars are now sold in more than 100 other countries worldwide. Despite their popularity, some drivers are clueless about the meaning of the brand name. One Quora user even asked: "What does "FIAT" mean in Italian and why was this name chosen for FIAT cars?"
Read our content ad-free by downloading the new-look Nottinghamshire Live app
According to Fiat's website, the acronym F.I.A.T. stands for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino. Although Fiat also means 'let there be' in Latin, the company got its name from the location of its first manufacturing plant in Turin, Italy.
A statement on Fiat of Scottsdale reads: "Fiat's story begins in 1900 when Italian entrepreneur Giovanni Agnelli opened the first Fiat factory in Turin, Italy. Agnelli founded the car company with a group of local investors, calling their newest venture: Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino (FIAT), or Italian Automobile Factory of Turin.
Its first factory was small, with only 150 staff working daily. But the small car maker did well at home, which allowed Agnelli to start the first American Fiat factory in 1908. After the Second World War, the company brought more cars to America and re-built many of its old operations.
The company revealed: "From that point on, Fiats became popular roadsters in the U.S., especially among young Americans - a trend that continues to this day. Fiat left its U.S. operations behind in the early 1980s, but demand for the automobile only increased over the years."
"This led Fiat to once again re-establish itself in the States in early 2011. Since then, Fiat has once again captured the hearts of American drivers who want excitement and fun out of their lives. Drivers have found this in Fiat's full line of cars, including the immensely popular Cinquecento family that provides the spunky driving feel that young Americans are seeking, all with affordable prices and excellent fuel economy."
Story Saved
You can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.
