The first generation Fiat Panda was introduced in 1980, and was produced until 1986, receiving a facelift for 1986-2003.
The second generation, launched in 2003, was the European Car of the Year in 2004.
The third generation debuted at Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2011 and is assembled in Italy at Pomigliano d'Arco.In 37 years Fiat has sold over 7.5 million Pandas globally, with about 4.5 million being the first series ' sales.
Introduced in 1980, the Panda (Tipo 141) was designed as an inexpensive, easy to use and maintain, no-frills utility vehicle, positioned in Fiat 's range between the 126 and 127. The first Panda was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italdesign.
In an interview with Turinese newspaper La Stampa published in February 1980, Giugiaro likened the Panda to a pair of jeans, because of its practicality and simplicity:
«La Panda (...) è come un paio di jeans, che sono poi un vestire semplice, pratico, senza fronzoli. (...) Ho cercato di portare in questa auto lo spìrito delle costruzioni militari, in particolare degli elicotteri, ossia di mezzi leggeri, razionali, nati per assolvere nel modo migliore a certi scopi».The Panda is like a pair of jeans, that simple, practical, no frills piece of clothing. I tried to bring into this car the spirit of military machinery, especially helicopters, that means light, rational, built-for- purpose vehicles.
The car was introduced to the press in December 1979; it went on sale in Italy in late February, ahead of its European première at the March 1980 Geneva Motor Show.
