New Zealand - An assembler at the Fiats Assembly Works - On July 11 1899 Giovanni Agnelli founded Fiat at Palazzo Bricherasio. With several investors, he founded the Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino (F.I.A.T.) società per azioni (S.p.a.), Italian Automobile Factory of Turin, in 1899. Its acronymous name was changed to upper- and lower-case Fiat in 1906. Agnelli led the company until his death in 1945, while Vittorio Valletta administered the firm's daily activities. Its first car the 3 ½ CV (of which only 24 copies were built, all bodied by Alessio of Turin) strongly resembled contemporary Benz, and had a 697 cc (42.5 cu in) boxer twin engine. In 1903, Fiat produced its first truck. In 1908, the first Fiat was exported to the US. That same year, the first Fiat aircraft engine was produced. Also around the same time, Fiat taxis became popular in Europe. By 1910, Fiat was the largest automotive company in Italy—a position it has retained since. The automotive industry in New Zealand - Supplies a market which has always had one of the world's highest car ownership ratios - The distributors of new cars are essentially the former owners of the assembly businesses. - At the dealership level they have maintained their old retail chains in spite of the establishment of the many new independent businesses built since the 1980s by specialists in used imports from Japan. - Toyota entered into direct competition with those used-import businesses refurbishing old Toyotas from Japan and selling them through their own dealers as a special line. - The nation's car fleet is accordingly somewhat older than in most developed countries. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotive_industry_in_New_Zealand) -------------------- Image soure: In foreground is Henry Jenaro Nelle, from Naples, an assembler at the Fiats Assembly Works. Archives New Zealand Reference: AAQT 6539 W3537 67 / A80772 https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivesnz/33755820471/