1939 to 1951
Second World War
During the war years there was a drastic reduction in the production of cars, while the construction of commercial vehicles increased considerably.
Changes in the top management
In 1945 Senator Giovanni Agnelli died and the presidency of the Fiat was assumed by Vittorio Valletta.
Post-war recovery
In 1948 the reconstruction of the plants destroyed during the war was completed, also thanks to the American subsidies from the Marshall plan. Profits started to grow and the number of employees also increased.
Commitment to research
With two new cars such as the 500 and the 1400, Fiat confirmed its commitment to research and innovation. For the first time the heating and ventilation systems were installed in mass production. Research continued on marine and aircraft engines: in 1951 the first Italian jet aircraft came into being, the G80.