Officially established in 2007 in Italy, Fiat was formerly part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles; before that, it was Fiat S.p.A, which was created in 1899. The company is best known for being the largest automobile manufacturer in Italy and one of the largest worldwide. For a period of time in the '60s and '70s, Fiat was the third largest global automobile manufacturer, right behind General Motors and Ford.

The first automobile Fiat produced (when it was still Fiat S.p.A) was the Fiat 3½ HP in 1899. The vehicle had a water-cooled 0.7-liter 2-cylinder engine mounted at the rear of its chassis, capable of producing 4.2 horsepower. Only 24 total units were produced of this model, with four still known to be in existence. Today, Fiat makes a variety of cars, vans, trucks, and SUVs. Its current model lineup includes the 500, 500 Abarth, 500X, Doblo, Panda, Panda 4X4, Tipo 5 Doors, 124 Spider, 500 3+1, 500L Trekking, Panda Cross, Tipo, Tipo Cross, Tipo Station Wagon, 500L Urban, Panda City Cross, Fullback, and Uno. Fiat’s highest US sales in recent years occurred in 2012 when it sold 46,999 vehicles.

Fiat recently announced it plans to expand its EV line, building off of the launch of the all-electric Fiat 500. 60% of the vehicles Fiat released in 2021 were electric, and two were hybrids (the Fiat Tipo and 500X). The company plans to be fully electric in the European market by 2027 and globally by 2030.