Fiat’s 125th anniversary event, Smiling to the Future, held at the Lingotto building in Turin, Italy was a milestone celebration that few automakers reach, as well as the beginning of a new chapter in the brand’s long history of success, social relevance and leadership, all fueled by a customer-first approach.

The event was attended by members of the international press, representatives of public institutions, including Mayor of Turin Stefano Lo Russo, and top management of the Stellantis Group, including John Elkann, chairman of Stellantis, Carlos Tavares, Stellantis CEO, and Olivier Francois, Fiat CEO and Stellantis CMO.

John Elkann, Stellantis Chairman, stated, “Fiat was born in 1899 out of a passion for progress. It was among the few companies that managed to transition from a craftsmanship stage to the industrial era. It represented the freedom to move anywhere for millions of people, and to do so with style. For 125 years we have never stopped working, seeking solutions, believing in our future, and defending tenaciously what we have built. We want to thank all the people who made possible for that Turin startup to become Stellantis today, one of the largest car manufacturers in the world.”

Tavares stated, “I’m delighted to be in the home of Fiat in Turin to celebrate 125 years and share the emotion of such a moment with all stakeholders. As one of the most iconic brands in our Stellantis constellation, Fiat brings true Italian flavor to the heart of our customers worldwide. For the third year in a row, Fiat is Stellantis number one brand in terms of volume. It leads in four domestic markets across the planet: Italy, Brazil, Turkey and Algeria.

On July 11, 1899, in Turin, the articles of association were signed for the Società Anonima Fabbrica Italiana di Automobili – Torino.

The event starred the Fiat Grande Panda, the new global model that will kick-start the Italian brand’s new era and the first of a new generation of FIAT vehicles. The event premiered the first real images of two other models in the new global family, an SUV and a fastback, which were introduced last February as concepts and now are at an advanced stage of development and planned to be launched in the following years.