Unveiling the Legacy: Ferrari and its Connection with Fiat

I’ve lost count of how many times someone’s asked me at a cars-and-coffee, “So… is Ferrari owned by Fiat?” It’s the sort of pub-quiz nugget that refuses to sit still because the truth has evolved. And it’s far more interesting than a simple yes or no. The story of Ferrari and Fiat is part romance, part boardroom calculus, and part racing obsession—something I’ve felt in my bones since the first time I stood outside the Maranello gate, exhaust vapors hanging in the morning air. Let’s straighten it out, with a few detours you’ll appreciate if you’ve ever fallen for the smell of hot brakes.

Ferrari and Fiat: the 1969 deal that changed both brands

In 1969, Fiat bought a 50% stake in Ferrari. Enzo needed the cash to keep racing (because, of course he did), and Fiat wanted a jewel that elevated the whole Italian car industry. Over the years, Fiat’s stake grew—north of 80%, and by the late 1980s, effectively around 90% with the Ferrari family retaining a sliver.

Fast-forward to the modern era: Fiat becomes Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), Ferrari goes public in 2015 (ticker RACE—how could it be anything else?), and by 2016 Ferrari is fully spun off as its own company. Today, Ferrari is independent, publicly traded, and controlled in part by Exor (the Agnelli family’s holding company). But the fingerprints of that long Fiat chapter are still on the door handles. You feel it in the industrial muscle and the polish of the road cars.

Ferrari and Fiat today: separate badges, shared history

Here’s the key: Ferrari builds low-volume, high-drama machines in Maranello; Fiat builds everyday heroes that thread tight city streets. Different planets, same solar system once upon a time. Even when the two were under one roof, Ferrari’s racing-first spirit was protected like a sacred recipe. And yet, having spent time in both—thrashing a 488 on a lumpy Apennine road and later hopping into a plucky 500 through Turin traffic—you sense that shared Italian refusal to make anything boring.

Where Ferrari and Fiat overlapped under the same roof

Contrary to the myths, Ferrari didn’t drop a V12 into a Panda. But there was fascinating cross-pollination when Ferrari and Fiat were closest:

• Fiat Dino (1967–73): A Ferrari-designed V6 built under Fiat’s production scale to homologate Ferrari’s F2 engine. I drove one years ago; the steering felt like silk, the engine loved to sing.
• Lancia Thema 8.32 (1986–92): A Ferrari-derived 3.0-liter V8 in a boxy executive sedan. The ultimate “what’s under the hood?” sleeper.
• Maserati era: Under Fiat/FCA ownership, Maserati and Ferrari shared powertrain tech (think F136 V8s). The DNA shows in the soundtracks.

Meanwhile, Ferrari also benefited from the corporate heft: manufacturing discipline, supplier leverage, and occasionally shared electrical architectures. Not romantic, but crucial when you’re building exotica that has to start every morning.

Ferrari and Fiat timeline: from stake to spin-off

How Ferrari and Fiat felt from behind the wheel

When I tried a mid-engined Ferrari on broken Tuscan backroads, I noticed right away how the chassis breathes with the surface—supple yet surgically precise. It’s as if the dampers can read the next paragraph. Jump into a Fiat 500 later the same day and you get a reminder: simple joy, tight packaging, steering that’s light but eager. No, they’re not cousins in feel, but they share that Italian insistence on character. Even the “everyday” car refuses to be anonymous.

Accessories and the ownership ritual

Owning a Ferrari is part driving, part ritual. The mats, the covers, the way you tend to each leather crease—ask any owner. A few owners mentioned to me they protect the sills and floors religiously, especially if they take the car on spirited Sunday runs to a muddy pub (we’ve all been there).

Elevating the cabin: Ferrari accessories worth a look

If you’re the sort who keeps a microfiber cloth in the glovebox (guilty), accessories make the experience feel complete. Floor mats are a simple win: practical, protective, and—if you choose well—quietly elegant.

• Tailored fit: reduces pedal interference and looks factory.
• Premium materials: better feel underfoot, better wear over time.
• Easy clean: keeps the cabin looking concours-ready after a damp B-road blast.

Fiat life, same principle

I ran a city car for a year, and floor mats were the unsung heroes—especially in winter. If you’re in a Fiat, the logic holds.

Ferrari and Fiat: legacy, not confusion

To wrap it up: Ferrari and Fiat spent decades together. Fiat’s investment kept Ferrari racing and evolving; Ferrari’s aura lifted the whole group. Today, Ferrari stands alone—independent, loud, gloriously obsessive—while Fiat gets on with the business of moving the world. The connection between Ferrari and Fiat isn’t about badge sharing. It’s about how two very different visions of Italian motoring pushed each other to be better. Honestly, I wasn’t sure at first that a corporate tie-up could preserve a soul. But stand near a modern Ferrari as it fires to life, and you’ll know the answer. The soul’s still very much there.

FAQ: Ferrari and Fiat

• Does Fiat own Ferrari today? No. Ferrari was spun off from FCA in 2016 and is now an independent, publicly traded company.
• When did Fiat first invest in Ferrari? 1969. Fiat bought a 50% stake, which later increased substantially.
• What’s the relationship now? Historical and cultural ties remain, but Ferrari and Fiat operate separately (Fiat within Stellantis; Ferrari independent).
• Did Ferrari engines go into other Fiat Group cars? Yes—most famously the Fiat Dino and the Lancia Thema 8.32, plus shared V8 families with Maserati.
• Why did Ferrari spin off? The IPO and spin-off unlocked value and allowed Ferrari to chart its own strategy while FCA (now part of Stellantis) focused on volume brands.

Explore Ferrari accessories

If you’re curating your cabin, Ferrari floor mats from AutoWin are a tasteful way to keep things pristine without shouting about it. Subtle, effective, very on-brand for a marque that obsesses over the details.