In 1943, at the age of 21, Gianni Agnelli is appointed as Fiat's Vice Chairman.
1952, Agnelli celebrates the return of a Fiat 1900 in the Rally from Cape Town- Algiers.
My grandfather always said that you need to clear your mind before starting to work seriously. He called me back to Fiat as Vice Chairman alongside him. I was 23-and-a-half years old.
Then I went away again to do my military service for a while, and then I came back.
He left some extraordinary men with me, one was Valletta, and it was Valletta who took the responsibility of managing Fiat.
1957, Milan, Museum of Science and Technology. Launch of the Bianchina car model.
1957, Milan, Museum of Science and Technology. Launch of the Bianchina car model.
1961, The Avvocato with Ted Kennedy. Fiat and USA have always had a very special relationship.
April 30, 1966. Gianni Agnelli replaces Vittorio Valletta as Fiat Chairman.
When in 1966 Valletta handed major responsibility over to me, I remember he told me with huge serenity: “ Today Fiat is strong, it’s financially stable, we cover more than two thirds of the Italian market, there is serenity and good working relations, I am very happy to hand this Fiat over to you, in these favourable conditions, after having worked for such a long time close to your grandfather”.
[Togliattigrad] is an operation wanted by the French, which De Gaulle personally wanted.
I have to say that Fiat’s success is due to the attention paid to preparation and to the particular relationship between Kossighin and Fiat.
1966, Valletta and Tarassov sign the agreement for the Togliattigrad Plant.
1970, Visit to the Togliattigrad Plant.
Avvocato Agnelli in his Mirafiori office.
March 1970, The Avvocato receives the car of the year award for the Fiat 128 model in London.
“All I have, I inherited. My grandfather did everything. I owe everything to ownership rights and to succession rights, I only added the duty of responsibility.”
My grandfather had 70% of Fiat shares in the portfolio and he managed them by giving low dividends. Also because he would have distributed them mainly to himself. He preferred to save and with the savings he built the huge Mirafiori Plant. But nobody knew that because he spoke very little. In other words he was not like me, who says everything at the general meeting.
1968, Avvocato Agnelli on the test track at Mirafiori Plant.
1968, Avvocato Agnelli on the test track at Mirafiori Plant.
1971 Agreement between Fiat and the Polish Government for the FSM Plant in Slesia.
Mid-70’s., In a moment of strong economic and social tension, Fiat finds the cash injection needed with the help of its Libyan Partners.
Gianni and Umberto Agnelli during a Fiat Shareholders’ Meeting, in 1983.
In those years Romiti managed Fiat in an admirable way. When facing the inevitable decision to dismiss people, which then changed into laying off people, the first reaction was to block plants. This was an unacceptable choice, that brought into question company management, which required a big change.
The turning point for Fiat, Italian industry and ultimately of this country, was the "40.000March".
The Avvocato with Cesare Romiti.
The Avvocato at an IFI Meeting with Gianluigi Gabetti.
In 1974, Gianni Agnelli starts his presidency at Confindustria, which would last two years.
The agreement [on the Italian salary increase mechanism matching the inflation rate] opened a different phase of social relationship, with the willingness to cooperate.
1989, Gianni Agnelli visiting La Stampa newsroom, located in Via Giordano Bruno, in Turin.
June 20, 1989, Lingotto. Opening of “Russian and Soviet Art 1870 – 1930” art exhibition.
If they told me when I was a young boy the I would have become a partner with General Motors, I would have never believed it.
The Avvocato with F. James McDonald, General Motors’s Chairman, and Henry Ford II.
My private life means nothing. What really counts is serving Fiat at the right moment, as now.
1983, Gianni and Umberto Agnelli together with Romiti and Gabetti during a Fiat Shareholders’ Meeting.
