Gruppo Bertone
| Company type | Private company (formerly) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive design, coachbuilding, vehicle production |
| Founded | 1912 |
| Founder | Giovanni Bertone |
| Defunct | 2014 |
| Fate | Bankruptcy; brand acquired and revived |
| Successor | Bertone Design (brand continuation) |
| Headquarters | Grugliasco , Italy |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Giovanni Bertone (founder), Nuccio Bertone (designer and leader), Lilli Bertone (final manager before insolvency) |
| Products | Coachbuilt cars, automotive designs, vehicles |
| Owner | Mauro and Jean-Franck Ricci (since 2020) |
Number of employees | ~100 (at insolvency in 2014) (2014) |
| Parent | None currently; formerly AKKA Technologies (2016–2020) |
| Website | www |
Gruppo Bertone, commonly referred to simply as Bertone, was an Italian company renowned for its expertise in industrial design, particularly within automotive styling, coachbuilding, and vehicle production. Additionally, it operated as a car manufacturer. Headquartered in Grugliasco, located in northern Italy, the firm was established in 1912 by Giovanni Bertone. After World War II, leadership passed to designer Nuccio Bertone, who restructured the business into two divisions: Carrozzeria for manufacturing and Stile Bertone for design. Up until its insolvency in 2014, the enterprise was managed by Nuccio’s widow, Lilli Bertone, employing roughly 100 people. Following bankruptcy, most personnel were dismissed, and the collection of museum automobiles was relocated to organizations such as Automotoclub Storico Italiano and Volandia.
Subsequent to the bankruptcy proceedings, the Bertone brand was purchased by an architect and sustained by former staff members operating a Milan-based studio concentrating on industrial design and architectural projects. In 2016, ownership of Bertone Design transferred to AKKA Technologies, which later divested the brand in 2020 to Mauro and Jean-Franck Ricci. The Ricci family revitalized Bertone in 2022, presenting the limited-edition GB110 initially in December 2022 and again in June 2024.
Early years
At 28 years old, Giovanni Bertone launched a carriage-building workshop in Turin, beginning with three employees focused on crafting horse-drawn vehicles. His son, Nuccio, was born in 1914. Operations were temporarily halted due to the First World War; however, by 1920 a new factory commenced activity near Monginevro 119 in Turin with a workforce of twenty. In 1921, the company obtained a contract to build torpedo-style bodies on SPA 23S chassis and designed the FIAT "501 Sport Siluro Corsa".
Throughout the 1920s, Giovanni Bertone developed coachwork for brands such as Fast, Chiribiri, Aurea, SCAT, and Diatto. Under commission from Vincenzo Lancia, Bertone crafted limited-run models featuring torpedo and saloon body styles for FIAT, Lancia, Itala, Diatto, and SPA vehicles. Important creations of this era included the Ansaldo 6BS sports car (1928), Fiat 505 limousine (1924), Itala 51S (1924), Lancia Lambda VIII Series (1928), and Lancia Artena produced between 1932 and 1936. Nuccio formally joined the company in 1933 when it relocated to Corso Peschiera 225 with a staff count of fifty. The following year saw the introduction of the Fiat 527S Ardita 2500.
During World War II, Bertone pivoted towards manufacturing military vehicles such as ambulances built on Lancia Artena chassis. The company also produced Fiat 2800 cabriolet models commissioned by racing driver Giovanni Lurani Cernuschi. Nuccio contributed designs including the Lancia Aprilia Cabriolet, Fiat 1100 Stanguellini racing car, and the Alfa Romeo BAT concept series.
In 1956, Bertone created the Abarth 750 Record based on the Fiat 600 platform; this vehicle achieved ten world records at Monza Circuit—covering a distance of over at an average speed of 156.36 km/h—and completed more than 10,125 km within a span of seventy-two hours. By 1957 production expanded to incorporate models like the NSU Sport Prinz. A new facility opened in Grugliasco in 1959 employing approximately 550 workers. Notable late-1950s designs included the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale, Aston Martin DB2/4, and Maserati 3500 GT.
1960s – 1990s
During this period, Giorgetto Giugiaro crafted five distinct GT variants, which encompassed the Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint in both coupé and cabriolet forms, two versions of the Ferrari 250 GT (including one dubbed 'Wax'), the Aston Martin DB4 GT 'Jet', and the Maserati 5000 GT. Simultaneously, collaborations with industrial partners resulted in limited-run models such as the Simca 1000 Coupé and BMW 3200 CS. Despite its Ferrari heritage, the ASA 1000 GT, nicknamed the "Ferrarina," failed commercially. The 1960s also introduced the Iso Rivolta GT 300, GT 340, and Iso Grifo, with Giugiaro contributing a cabriolet prototype alongside a racing A3C edition. Noteworthy designs from this era included the Chevrolet Testudo, presented by Nuccio Bertone at the 1963 Geneva Motor Show, followed by the Alfa Romeo Canguro in 1964 and the Alfa Romeo Giulia GT in 1965.
In 1965, Bertone launched the immensely popular Fiat 850 Spider, which led to a production increase reaching 120 cars daily. By 1972, total output approached 140,000 units, predominantly destined for the American market, with annual production growing from 13,000 in 1966 to nearly 30,000 by 1968.
The latter part of the decade saw collaborations with Ferruccio Lamborghini that produced legendary vehicles such as the Lamborghini Miura, followed by the Marzal in 1967 and the Espada in 1968. Additional significant coupés from this timeframe included both the Alfa Romeo Montreal and the Fiat Dino Coupé, each introduced in 1967. At the Paris Motor Show in 1968, Bertone revealed the striking Alfa Romeo Carabo concept. By 1970, Bertone's Grugliasco facility employed approximately 1,500 staff members. The partnership with Lamborghini continued with designs like the Espada—drawing inspiration from the Jaguar Pirana—and later extended to models such as the Lamborghini Jarama and Urraco.
Following Giovanni Bertone’s death in 1972, that same year marked the debut of both the Maserati Khamsin and the mid-engine Fiat X1/9, which remained in production until 1988 with a total of around 160,000 units built. During this period, Bertone initiated collaboration with Volvo, resulting in work on the 264 TE and unveiling of the Volvo 262C at the Geneva Motor Show in 1977. In the early 1980s, Bertone began producing and marketing vehicles under its own brand name, including models like the Fiat Ritmo Cabrio and continued work on the X1/9. Designer Marcello Gandini contributed significantly with his creation of the successful Citroën BX in 1982. A pivotal commercial deal with General Motors Europe in 1986 transferred production responsibilities for the Kadett Cabrio to Bertone. Later on, manufacturing extended to include both the Opel Astra Cabrio and Fiat Punto Cabrio, starting in 1993. In addition, Bertone introduced its Zero Emission Record (ZER) concept in 1994 and achieved ISO 9001 quality certification that same year.
2000s – present
By 2009, financial difficulties compelled Bertone to divest its Grugliasco manufacturing plant along with production operations to FIAT. The company experienced significant restructuring efforts that reduced its workforce to roughly 300 engineers and designers. Continuing economic challenges led to selling off concept vehicles in 2011. Ultimately, Bertone ceased operations and announced in March 2014 that bankruptcy would be declared unless a buyer was found by April.
In May 2013, brand rights were licensed by Bertone Cento to Bertone Design, which collaborated with Citroën, though no new prototypes or production models emerged following this acquisition.
In June 2016, engineering firm AKKA Technologies purchased rights to the Bertone brand for over , sharing usage privileges with Bertone Design but restricting application outside of automotive contexts. Beginning November 2018, AKKA licensed brand use for electric vehicle development to Flymove Holding Limited UK; this company completed full acquisition of Bertone in May 2019. Flymove revived Bertone by launching new electric vehicle models designed by former Bertone designer Carlos Arroyo Turon featuring innovative battery swap technology.
Subsequently, AKKA sold ownership of Bertone to Ideactive—owned by Mauro and Jean-Franck Ricci—who reestablished the brand in 2022 with a limited-edition hypercar named GB110 unveiled publicly at Top Marques Monaco in June 2024 after its December launch.
Passenger car designs
| Model | Year | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Abarth 1500 Biposto | 1952 | |
| Abarth OT 1000 Spider | 1965 | |
| Alfa Romeo 2000 Sportiva | 1954 | |
| Alfa Romeo BAT 11 | 2008 | |
| Alfa Romeo BAT 5 | 1953 | |
| Alfa Romeo BAT 7 | 1954 | |
| Alfa Romeo BAT 9 | 1955 | |
| Alfa Romeo Bella | 1999 | |
| Alfa Romeo Canguro | 1964 | |
| Alfa Romeo Carabo | 1968 | |
| Alfa Romeo Delfino | 1983 | |
| Alfa Romeo Montreal | 1967 | |
| Alfa Romeo Navajo | 1976 | |
| Alfa Romeo Pandion | 2010 | |
| Alfa Romeo Sportut | 1997 | |
| Aston Martin DB4 GT Jet | 1961 | |
| Aston Martin Rapide Bertone Jet 2+2 | 2013 | |
| Aston Martin Vanquish Jet 2 | 2004 | |
| Autobianchi A112 Runabout | 1969 | |
| Bertone Birusa | 2003 | |
| Bertone Blitz | 1992 |
Motorcycle Models
- Lambretta Luna Series: Lui/Vega/Cometa (1968)
- Lambretta GP/DL (1969)
Bertone-Produced Vehicles Not Designed by Bertone
- BMW C1 (2000–2003)
- Fiat Punto Cabrio (1995–1999)
- Mini Cooper GP (2006)
- Volvo 262C (1977–1981)
Prominent Designers
- Giovanni Bertone (1912–1945)
- Mario Revelli di Beaumont (1933–1954)
- Giovanni Michelotti (1950–1954)
- Franco Scaglione (1952–1959)
- Giorgetto Giugiaro (1959–1965)
- Marcello Gandini (1965–1979)
- Marc Deschamps (1970s–1974; 1979–1992)
- Luciano D'Ambrosio (1992–2001)
- Giuliano Biasio (1980–1990; 1997–2006)
- David Wilkie (2007–2008)
- Jason Castriota (2008–2009)
- Michael Vernon Robinson (2009–2013)
Additional Resources
- AutoCar (Nov 26, 2007) "Bertone's on the brink"
- Automotive World (Nov 27, 2007) "Carrozzeria Bertone files for bankruptcy protection"
- AutoWeek (Jan 2, 2008) "New white knight emerges for Bertone"