Ferrari

Enzo Ferrari founded the company in 1939 as Auto Avio Costruzioni to produce aircraft parts and racing components after leaving Alfa Romeo, but he was legally barred from using his own name for four years due to a non-compete agreement. The first car to bear the Ferrari name, the 125 S, was launched in 1947, signaling the start of a legendary era in both road car production and motorsport. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Ferrari achieved unparalleled success in Formula 1 and sports car racing, which helped establish its road-going Grand Tourers as the ultimate symbols of wealth and performance. In 1969, to provide financial stability for its capital-intensive racing and production operations, Enzo Ferrari sold a 50% stake in the company to Fiat S.p.A. This partnership allowed for the development of iconic models like the Testarossa and the F40, the latter being the last car approved by Enzo before his death in 1988. Following his passing, the company underwent significant modernization under the leadership of Luca di Montezemolo, who expanded the brand's global presence while strictly maintaining production caps to preserve exclusivity. In 2015, Ferrari N.V. was listed on the New York Stock Exchange and subsequently spun off from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in early 2016 to become an independent entity. In recent years, the manufacturer has embraced a multi-technology approach, introducing its first plug-in hybrid series-production car, the SF90 Stradale, and its first high-performance utility vehicle, the Purosangue. Today, Ferrari continues to transition toward electrification, with its first fully electric model scheduled for 2025, while remaining anchored by its traditional V12 and V8 internal combustion heritage.