If you are curious and intrigued by the world of cars, quench your thirst by exploring some of the best Italian car brands. Italians are among the pioneer in the world automotive industry. They are the ones who offered the world sports cars in various dynamics.
Today, despite several global car brands producing sports & hypercars, no one can match the bar Italians have set. Many argue about Italian cars brand being costly and less advanced than their prominent rivals. However, Italians serve it on a diamond platter when it comes to building quality, style, class, and overall outlook.
The Italian automotive industry is global. Fiat, Ferrari, Maserati, and Alfa Romeo are some of Italy’s well-reputed and highly acclaimed car brands.
Italians are ruling the race of premium cars locally & globally. Currently, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) dominates the Italian car market.
If you wish to take your car knowledge to the next level or simply dream of owning an Italy-made car, you will come across a wide range of products. You can get anything you want, from compact cars to supercars. So let us dive in and scour Italy’s top 10 car brands and some of their most popular car models.
Top 10 Italian Cars Brands That You Should Look For
Cars are an integral part of Italians. Italy currently holds the largest personal car ownership compared to any other country. And one of the biggest reasons for it is the country’s varied automobile industry which offers everything from practical to roaring beasts.
Here we have listed the most famous Italian car brands across the globe. You will learn about their start, working scenario, and some popular models they have produced.
Let us begin and help you find which Italian automaker might be your next favorite.
1. Ferrari
- Founder: Enzo Ferrari
- Founded: 1947, Maranello, Italy
- Headquarters: Maranello, Italy
- Parent organizations: Exor, FERRARI N.V.
- Owner: Exor N.V. (24.21%) Piero Ferrari (10.30%) Public (65.49%)
Ferrari, or Ferrari S.P.A, is one of the most popular and well-known Italian luxury car brands. The late Enzo Ferrari founded the company in 1939 in Maranello, Italy. Ferrari built its first car in 1940.
What most people do not know about Ferrari is that Enzo Ferrari used to work as a driver in the racing department of Alfa Romeo. It is where he founded Ferrari as “Auto Avio Costruzioni.” The first Ferrari-badged car came into existence in 1947.
Ferrari was an excellence then, and it is an excellence now. It is well known for manufacturing highly-reliable sports cars offering high-end speed. Earlier, the brand used to make only racing cars. But with time, it started developing luxury sports cars for regular driving.
Latest Ferrari Models:
- 2023 Ferrari Roma
- 2022 Ferrari F8 Tributo
- 2022 Ferrari SF90 Stradale
- 2022 Ferrari 296 GTB
Top Selling Ferraris Of All Time:
- Ferrari F40
- Ferrari 458 Italia
- Ferrari Portofino
- Ferrari GTC4 Lusso
- Ferrari 488
2. Lamborghini
- Founder: Ferruccio Lamborghini
- Founded: May 1963, Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy
- Headquarters: Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy
- Parent organizations: Audi, Volkswagen Group
- Owner: Volkswagen Group
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. or popularly known as Lamborghini is another Italian auto manufacturer of luxury SUVs and sports cars.
It was founded in 1963 by Ferruccio Lamborghini to compete against the top sports car manufacturer of that time, “Ferrari.” The company saw a massive rise in its first decade. However, after this, it faced many hardships.
Lamborghini’s ownership changed thrice after the 1973 worldwide financial downturn and the oil crisis. And currently, it is owned by “The Volkswagen Group” via its subsidiary “Audi.”
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Italian brands are not much into making family rides like SUVs, but with the rising popularity of SUVs after COVID-19, exclusive sports car brands like Lamborghini have started making lavish & faster versions.
Latest Lamborghini Models:
- 2023 Lamborghini Urus
- 2023 Lamborghini Aventador
- 2023 Lamborghini Huracan STO
- 2023 Lamborghini Huracan EVO
- 2023 Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica
Top Selling Lamborghinis Of All Time:
- Lamborghini Urus
- Lamborghini Huracan
- Lamborghini Sian
- Lamborghini Veneno
- Lamborghini Aventador
3. Alfa Romeo
- Founder: Nicola Romeo, Alexandre Darracq, Ugo Stella
- Founded: June 24, 1910, in Milan, Italy
- Headquarters: Turin, Italy
- Parent organizations: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Stellantis Italy
- Owner: Stellantis
Alfa Romeo or Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. is another name among the prominent car brands from Italy. This car brand is well known for its spacious luxury sports cars. It is owned by the multinational automotive manufacturing corporation “Stellantis.”
Alfa Romeo was founded in 1910 in Milan, Italy, under the name A.L.F.A. “A.L.F.A” is an acronym for Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili.
Whether you wish to own a luxurious everyday sports car or a sport-oriented ride, this Italian brand can give you everything. Also, Alfa Romeo has a high reputation in car racing. It has been involved in the racing sport since 1911.
Latest Alfa Romeo Models:
- 2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia
- 2024 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
- 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale
Top Selling Alfa Romeos Of All Time:
- Alfa Romeo Alfasud
- Alfa Romeo 33
- Alfa Romeo 156
- Alfa Romeo 147
4. Maserati
- Founder: Ernesto Maserati, Alfieri Maserati, Ettore Maserati
- Founded: December 1, 1914, Bologna, Italy
- Headquarters: Modena, Italy
- Parent organizations: Stellantis
- Owner: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA)
Maserati S.p.A., or Maserati, is among the most desired Italy car brands that most sports car enthusiasts dream of owning. The company was founded by three car fanatic Maserati brothers in 1914 in Bologna, Italy. And now, its headquarter is in Modena, Italy.
However, “Gran Prix 1500,” the first sports car under this brand name, was released 12 years later. And making race cars was all Maserati did.
But in the 1960s, the company shifted its focus to luxury cars. And since then, Maserati has been building luxury sports cars.
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Initially, Maserati was associated with Ferrari but now is owned by Stellantis since 2021. It is one of the most reliable Italian automakers that you can consider.
Latest Maserati Models:
- 2023 Maserati Levante
- 2023 Maserati Ghibli
- 2023 Maserati Quattroporte
- 2024 Maserati GranTurismo
Top Selling Maserati Of All Time:
- 4CLT
- 250F
- A6G CS/53
- Tipo 61 Birdcage
- 3500 GT
5. Fiat
- Founder: Giovanni Agnelli
- Founded: July 11, 1899, in Turin, Italy
- Headquarters: Lingotto, Turin, Italy
- Parent organizations: Stellantis Italy
- Owner: Stellantis
Fiat, formally known as Fiat Automobiles S.p.A was founded in 1899 in Turin, Italy, by Giovanni Agnelli. It was earlier a part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. But, since 2021, it has been owned by Stellantis Italy, the Italian division of Stellantis.
Many do not know that the “Fiat Group” represents two large divisions. One is “Fiat Industrial,” and the other is “Fiat SpA.” Fiat Industrial focuses on producing industrial vehicles, whereas Fiat SpA works on creating passenger vehicles.
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Fiat Automobiles is among the largest car manufacturers in Italy and Europe. And another exciting thing is that the cars of this brand are built in several locations around the world.
Latest Fiat Models:
- Fiat 500
- Fiat 124 Spider
- Fiat Linea
- Fiat Doblo
Top Selling Fiats Of All Time:
- Dino
- 124 Abarth Rally
- 130 Coupe
- X1/9
- Uno Turbo
6. Pagani
- Founder: Horacio Pagani
- Founded: 1992, San Cesario sul Panaro, Italy
- Headquarters: San Cesario sul Panaro, Italy
- Parent organizations:
- Owner: Horacio Pagani
Pagani Automobili S.p.A., generally called Pagani, is a famous hypercar manufacturer. It is an independent company founded as Pagani Composite Research in 1988 by Horacio Pagani, who formerly worked with Lamborghini.
This company worked with Lamborghini on various projects. But as the demand for Pagani’s designs increased, the company began designing and making their own cars. The first Pagani model was “Zonda” and was introduced in 1999 at the Geneva Motor Show.
Latest Pagani Models:
- Pagani Zonda MD
- Pagani Huayra R
- Pagani Utopia
Top Selling Fiats Of All Time:
- Pagani Huayra Codalunga
- Pagani Huayra Roadster BC
- Pagani Zonda
- Pagani Zonda HP Barchetta
7. Lancia
- Founder: Vincenzo Lancia
- Founded: November 1906, Turin, Italy
- Headquarters: Turin, Italy
- Parent organizations: Stellantis, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Stellantis Italy
- Owner: Stellantis
Another Italian sports cars brands that you should explore to learn what the Italian automobile industry has to offer is Lancia. This brand exclusively makes car models for the Italian car market. It is currently a subsidiary of FCA Italy S.p.A, a subsidiary of Stellantis.
Lancia has a vast history of technical innovations and used to compete actively in the World Rally Championship. To date, it is the only brand with the most Manufacturers’ Championships.
Since 2015, Lancia Ypsilon has been the only model produced by the company. Also, its sale is only restricted within Italy since 2017.
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But now the current owner Stellantis has declared that it will work on reviving this Italian car brand by producing more than one car model and selling them internationally.
Latest Lancia Models:
- LANCIA Pu+Ra HPE
Top Selling Lancias Of All Time:
- 1964 Lancia Flaminia GTL 3C 2.8 by Touring
- 1972 Lancia Fulvia Coupe
- 1970 Lancia Fulvia Coupe Rally 1.6 HF “Fanalone”
- 1971 Lancia Fulvia Coupe Rally 1.3 HF “Fanalone”
8. Abarth
- Founder: Carlo Abarth, Armando Scagliarini
- Founded: 1949, Bologna, Italy
- Headquarters: Turin, Italy
- Parent organizations: Stellantis Italy
- Owner: Stellantis
If you are a huge car racing fan, you can not miss the Italian brand “Abarth.” It is a very famous maker of road and race cars in Italy.
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It was founded by Carlo Abarth in 1949 as Abarth & C. S.p.A. Earlier, the company used to make mufflers and exhaust systems for automobiles. But in the 1950s, the company started producing small-scale sports cars locally.
In 1971 the company was taken over by Fiat. Currently, it is owned by famous automaker Stellantis via its Italian subsidiary.
Latest Abarth Models:
- Abarth 695 Esseesse
- Abarth595 Scorpioneoro
- Abarth 595 Monster Energy Yamaha
- Abarth 695 70° Anniversario
Top Selling Abarths Of All Time:
- 1949 Abarth 205 A
- 1957 Abarth 500 Coupe
- 1957 Abarth 750 Spyder
- 1958 Abarth 500 Record
- 1963 Abarth Simca 1300 GT
9. Mazzanti
- Founder: Luca Mazzanti
- Founded: 2002, Pontedera, Italy
- Headquarters: Pisa, Italy
- Parent organizations: N/A
- Owner: Luca Mazzanti
Mazzanti, or Mazzanti Automobili, is an Italian manufacturing company that produces handcrafted, high-performance vehicles. It was founded as “Faralli & Mazzanti” by Luca Mazzanti and Walter Faralli.
And “Mazzanti Automobili” came into existence after Luca & Faralli went their separate ways and formed respective teams, “Mazzanti Automobili” and “Faralli Restauri.”
The company was established in 2002, where the two founders work on developing handcrafted cars and simultaneously restoring classic cars. The first model made by Mazzanti was an exotic sports car called F&M Antas, entirely manufactured by hand.
In 2011, the company launched its project, “Evantra.” It was a mid-size coupe which in 2012 was converted into full size, and official construction was started. The main markets of this upcoming Italian car maker are Europe, Russia, UAE, and China.
Latest Mazzanti Models:
- Evantra
- Evantra Millecavalli
- Evantra 771
Top Selling Mazzanti Of All Time:
- Evantra
10. Pininfarina
- Founder: Battista Farina
- Founded: May 23, 1930, Turin, Italy
- Headquarters: Cambiano, Italy
- Parent organizations: Mahindra & Mahindra, Tech Mahindra, PF Holding B.V, Mahindra Group
- Owner: Mahindra & Mahindra, Tech Mahindra
The last name on our list of top Italian car brands is Pininfarina. It is a car design firm and coachbuilder founded in 1930. It is currently owned by Indian multinational automaker “Mahindra Group” who acquired a 76% stake in the company.
Pininfarina is highly popular among many automakers. The company is employed by many top car-making companies across the globe to design vehicles.
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Some top names include Ferrari, Fiat, Peugeot, Alfa Romeo, & GM are some top names. Other than these Italian & American automakers, Pininfarina is also popular among Asian automakers.
Apart from high-end cars, this company has also designed high-speed trains, buses, airplanes, private jets, and more.
Latest Pininfarina Models:
- Pininfarina Battista
Top Selling Pininfarina Of All Time:
- Cadillac Eldorado Brougham
- Cadillac Allanté
- Ferrari F12berlinetta
Top FAQs About Italian Luxury Car Brands
What are the different types of car brands?
When it comes to cars, there are several classes to explore. You can find anything in today’s vehicle-oriented world, from luxurious to practical to expensive to affordable.
To ensure you buy the right thing, you must first learn the different types of automobile brands. Some are exclusive to building only one type, whereas others like multitasking.
Here we have listed all the popular car brands you will come across during your search for your new purchase:
- Luxury Brands
These brands make high-end cars filled with high-quality materials and technologically advanced features. BMW, Mercedes Benz, Audi, and Alfa Romeo are prominent names in the segment.
- Sports Car Brands
These are the brands dedicated to making performance and speed-oriented rides. Usually, sports car makers are also luxurious, like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti, & more.
But some other brands are offering affordable sports cars. They are not as luxurious & upbeat as the high-end brands. Still, they undoubtedly provide good speed & performance at affordable prices. Toyota and Subaru are the top names in this category.
- Economy Brands
These car brands make vehicles practical for everyday use and easily affordable by the masses. Toyota, Honda, Kia, and Hyundai are the big names in the economy brand class.
- EV Brands
To save the environment, electric cars are becoming more and more popular. EV brands are the ones that make emission-free vehicles that run entirely on electricity and do not harm the environment. Tesla, Lucid Motors, & Rivian are some prominent names.
- Hybrid Car Brands
These are the brands that give you the best of both worlds. Hybrid car brands make vehicles that run on both gasoline & electricity. You get better fuel efficiency and an affordable ride compared to EVs.
What are the most famous luxury Italian car brands?
If you are considering buying an Italian luxury car with your hard-earned money, then you must go for the popular brands well acclaimed around the globe. Check out the top luxury names of the Italian auto market below:
- Ferrari
- Lamborghini
- Maserati
- Alfa Romeo
- Pagani
- Lancia
- Bugatti
What are the best Italian economy car brands?
Generally, Italy and its cars are labeled as luxury. Not many are aware that the country is also home to economy brands. Economy automakers are the ones who make compact, affordable cars for everyday use. Some of the top economy automobile manufacturers of Italy are:
- Fiat
- Lancia
- Autobianchi
- Alfa Romeo
- Innocenti
Does the Italian automotive industry make electric cars?
YES. The Italian car market has significantly evolved in the past decade. The car brands are acknowledging the change and are working towards it. Currently, several car manufacturers in Italy produce hybrid and electric cars. Italy is becoming a growing EV market, and here are some of the top brands of the class:
- Maserati
- Pininfarina
- fiat
- Alfa Romeo
- Automobili Estrema
- XEV
Do Italians make SUVs?
The Italian automobile industry is mainly known for its sports & luxury car manufacturing. It produces some of the most popular and globally acclaimed sports car models.
SUVs and crossovers are rare among Italian car makers. However, in recent years with the rising popularity of SUVs, many brands have entered this segment and are producing some noteworthy models.
Maserati, Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, and Iveco are some top Italian SUV and crossover brands.
Conclusion
The world of automobiles is incomplete without the Italian automotive industry. Italy is famous for producing high-end sports cars that take the world by storm.
If you wish to buy from or scour this automotive market, you must start by exploring top Italian car brands. This article covers Italy’s top 10 famous automakers, their crucial details, and related frequently asked questions.
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