FIAT Neckar is a manufacturer of cars German, subsidiary of the Italian group FIAT, which manufactured under license FIAT and Autobianchi between 1957 and 1971, in the factory acquired by FIAT with Heilbronn in 1929 of the models identical to the Italian originals.

History

NSU, former German manufacturer of cars, in bankruptcy, sold its industrial site of Heilbronn (at the edge of the river Neckar) with FIAT in 1929. FIAT immediately begins construction with its own licenses FIAT 500 Topolino and FIAT 508 Balilla and markets them under the name FIAT-NSU . At the same time, these same cars were also manufactured in France by Simca - FIAT.

In 1957, NSU decides to try to start again the manufacture of cars and negotiated with FIAT the acquisition of mark NSU. FIAT-NSU is transformed into FIAT Neckar.

Models FIAT Neckar

The production during these years of rebuilding according to war did not exceed the 25.000 units per annum, and included/understood primarily:

• FIAT 500 (Neckar Weinsberg), equivalent of Nuova 500, built with more than 6.000 specimens between 1959 and 1962;

• FIAT 600 (Neckar Jagst), manufactured in three versions: Jagst - Jagst 770 and Jagst 2, between 1956 and 1969. A half-compartment and a version convertible based on the FIAT 600 will be manufactured under the name of Neckar Riviera. It is not less than 172.000 specimens of Jagst which were built in Germany,

• FIAT 1100 (Neckar Europa) hardly modified and offering a grill with the Neckar logo. The total production arrives at 160.000 specimens,

• FIAT 1300/1500 (Neckar 1500 TS) identical to the Italian version except for the logo. A signed SIATA and baptized specific version cut Neckar Mistral is also built as from 1961,

• Autobianchi Panoramica (Neckar Panorama), narrowly derived from Autobianchi Panoramica, similar to FIAT 500 Giardiniera makes it possible Neckar to increase its production up to 50.000 units in 1962,

• FIAT 850 (Neckar Adria) is the last model manufactured by Neckar.

The very important variation of the cost of the labor with the Italy and the creation of free movement of the goods without customs duties within the Common Market European entâchent the accounts of Neckar. FIAT refuses to yield to him the licenses for the news FIAT 124, FIAT 125 and FIAT 128.

The production of FIAT Neckar slows down unrelentingly until 1963:

• 50.000 cars are built in 1962,
• 44.000 in 1963,
• 22.000 in 1964,
• 18.000 in 1967
• and only 12.000 in 1970.

Neckar disappears in 1971 after having built 370.000 cars on the whole.