Who Owns Abarth?

Abarth's story began on March 31, 1949, when Carlo Abarth and investor Armando Scagliarini founded Abarth & C. in Bologna, Italy. The company was established following the liquidation of Cisitalia, where Carlo Abarth had served as sporting director since 1947. From Cisitalia's assets, Abarth obtained five 204 sports cars, a D46 single-seater, and various spare parts, which provided the foundation for the new venture. The scorpion from Carlo's astrological sign, Scorpio, was chosen as the company logo, creating what would become one of the most recognizable emblems in automotive history.

The initial focus of Abarth & C. was twofold: racing and producing performance parts. The newly formed "Squadra Abarth" racing team quickly attracted celebrated drivers, including the legendary Tazio Nuvolari, who made his final racing appearance in an Abarth 204A, winning his class in the Palermo-Monte Pellegrino hillclimb on April 10, 1950. Alongside racing, the company developed a thriving business producing performance parts and accessories for Fiat, Lancia, and other manufacturers, particularly focusing on exhaust systems that delivered Abarth's signature sound and power improvements.

On April 9, 1951, Abarth relocated its headquarters to Turin, establishing closer proximity to Fiat, with whom they would form a crucial partnership starting in 1952. The relationship with Fiat deepened in 1957 when Abarth entered an innovative agreement whereby they received direct fees for successful competition finishes. This arrangement led to an extraordinary period where Abarth entered countless races across the world, competing in multiple classes to maximize results-based payments. The competition success was remarkable—in 1962, Abarth cars secured 10 world records, 133 international records, and over 10,000 victories in various race classes.

Abarth's performance engineering capabilities extended beyond modifying existing vehicles. In the late 1950s and 1960s, technical director Mario Colucci led the development of purpose-built racing cars like the innovative Abarth 1000 SP (Sport Prototype) with tubular frames and fiberglass bodywork. The company also collaborated with design houses including Zagato, creating iconic models like the Fiat-Abarth 750 Zagato, which combined exceptional performance with striking Italian design. By the 1960s, Abarth had evolved from a specialist tuning house to a recognized manufacturer with a catalog featuring exhausts, carburetors, and complete performance-enhanced vehicles.

A significant transition occurred on July 31, 1971, when Carlo Abarth, facing health issues and financial pressures, sold the company to Fiat. This acquisition marked the end of Abarth's independence, with its racing operations transferred to Enzo Osella, who continued the competition legacy under the Osella racing team banner. Under Fiat ownership, Abarth was reconstituted as Fiat's racing department under the direction of engine designer Aurelio Lampredi, focusing on developing rally cars including the successful Fiat 124 Abarth Rally and later the dominant Fiat 131 Abarth, which secured three World Rally Championships between 1977 and 1980.

After a period of relative dormancy in the 1990s and early 2000s, when the Abarth name was primarily used as a trim level designation for certain Fiat models, the brand experienced a renaissance on February 1, 2007. Fiat Group Automobiles reestablished Abarth & C. S.p.A. as an independent unit, marking the return of Abarth as a distinct brand within the group. Based in the Officine 83 facility at the historic Mirafiori engineering plant in Turin, the revived Abarth focused on developing high-performance versions of Fiat models, beginning with the Abarth Grande Punto and the competition-oriented Grande Punto S2000.

The brand continued to evolve following Fiat's merger with Chrysler in 2014 to form FCA and subsequently through the creation of Stellantis in 2021. Most recently, Abarth has embraced the challenge of electrification with the introduction of its first electric models, the Abarth 500e in 2023 and the Abarth 600e in 2025, while expanding its global presence with models like the Pulse and Fastback in South American markets. Throughout these corporate transitions, Abarth has maintained its core identity as a performance-focused brand delivering accessible, exhilarating driving experiences with the distinctive Abarth scorpion proudly displayed on each vehicle.