CA Auto Bank

CA Auto Bank S.p.A. is an Italian financial institution focused on automotive and mobility finance. Its activities include retail vehicle loans, leasing, dealer and distribution-network finance, insurance-related services, savings products and selected mobility solutions. The institution is headquartered in Turin and operates through a European network, with a presence extending to Morocco. The business traces its origins to SAVA, founded in Turin in 1925 to finance sales of Fiat's 509 model. Although SAVA initially financed vehicles from more than one manufacturer, Fiat acquired the company outright in 1930 and subsequently concentrated its lending on Fiat products. It later developed hire-purchase financing for used cars. Over the following decades, the business was reorganized several times as Fiat's automotive-finance operations expanded beyond Italy. A major structural change came in 2006, when Fiat Auto and Crédit Agricole created a joint venture to manage automotive financial services in Europe. The operation was subsequently known as Fiat Auto Financial Services, Fiat Group Automobiles Financial Services and, from 2009, FGA Capital. It supported Fiat and later Chrysler brands while also entering arrangements with external automotive manufacturers. These relationships included Jaguar Land Rover, Maserati, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Morgan, Harley-Davidson and Erwin Hymer Group, among others. FCA Bank was established in 2015 as an equal joint venture between FCA Italy and Crédit Agricole Consumer Finance and obtained a banking licence in Italy. The group combined automotive lending with leasing, dealer services, savings and rental activities. Its subsidiary Leasys expanded internationally and acquired Winrent in 2018, broadening the group's mobility and short-term rental offer. In 2023, following the formation of Stellantis and the end of the previous FCA-related ownership structure, FCA Bank was acquired by Crédit Agricole from Stellantis Italy and adopted the name CA Auto Bank. The rebranding positioned the institution as a multi-brand automotive and mobility finance platform rather than a captive bank tied to a single car manufacturer. Its business remains based on cooperation with vehicle brands, dealers, importers and mobility providers, while serving private customers, companies and distribution networks.

CA Auto Bank's history begins with SAVA, or Società Anonima Vendita Automobili, founded in Turin on April 25, 1925. The company was created in connection with the launch of Fiat's 509 and provided credit for vehicle purchases. Its early financing was not necessarily limited to Fiat, but the business quickly became closely integrated with Fiat's commercial system. In 1927, SAVA began collecting savings through interest-bearing bonds and promoted automobile ownership through advertising. Fiat acquired all of SAVA's shares in 1930. From January 1931, Fiat directed the company to concentrate its lending on Fiat vehicles. In 1938, SAVA added hire-purchase financing for used cars, an early expansion beyond financing new-car sales. The business was reorganized during the expansion of Fiat's international automotive operations. In 2003, SAVA was placed under Fidis Retail Italia. The ownership and structure of Fidis changed during the subsequent creation of a European financial-services partnership between Fiat Auto and Crédit Agricole. At the end of 2006, Fiat Auto repurchased a controlling interest in Fidis Retail Italia, merged FiatSava into it, changed its name to Fiat Auto Financial Services and admitted Sofinco, a Crédit Agricole group company, as an equal shareholder. In 2007, the organization consolidated Fiat's European sales-network and rental-finance activities and adopted the name Fiat Group Automobiles Financial Services. In 2009, the business became FGA Capital. It broadened its role by taking over financial-services support for Chrysler brands in Europe, including Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge. It also developed or renewed relationships with Jaguar Land Rover and Maserati, and later supported luxury and specialist manufacturers such as Ferrari, Aston Martin and Morgan. A Maserati finance program was established in 2013, while the Jaguar Land Rover relationship was renewed for the period beginning in 2014. The joint venture between Fiat Group Automobiles and Crédit Agricole was also extended to the end of 2021. FCA Bank was formally created on January 16, 2015, as an equal joint venture between FCA Italy and Crédit Agricole Consumer Finance. After securing an Italian banking licence, it operated as an international banking group across European markets and Morocco. Its activities expanded beyond vehicle credit to include savings, leasing, dealer finance, insurance-related services and mobility businesses. In 2015, it created Erwin Hymer Group Finance with the Erwin Hymer Group and entered a partnership with Ferrari Financial Services. Its online Conto Deposito savings account was introduced the same year. Leasys, wholly owned by FCA Bank at the time, pursued international expansion from 2017 into markets including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain. In 2018, FCA Bank renewed its continental-European relationship with Jaguar Land Rover, became a finance partner for Aston Martin and Morgan, and Leasys acquired Winrent, a short-term rental company. From 2019, FCA Bank also entered two-wheeler finance through a Harley-Davidson partnership in Spain and Poland. The company faced regulatory criticism in 2019, when the Bank of Italy imposed a €2.5 million sanction relating to organizational and transparency-control shortcomings. In the early 2020s, it continued adding brand and service relationships, including a European cooperation agreement with VinFast. In 2023, following the change in the ownership environment created by Stellantis, Crédit Agricole acquired the business from Stellantis Italy. FCA Bank was then renamed CA Auto Bank. The current identity emphasizes independent, multi-brand automotive and mobility finance while retaining the institution's long-standing links with vehicle manufacturers and dealers.

1. 2023FCA Bank becomes CA Auto Bank

   Crédit Agricole acquires the institution from Stellantis Italy and the bank adopts the CA Auto Bank name.

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2. 2018Leasys acquires Winrent

   The FCA Bank subsidiary acquires short-term rental company Winrent while the group adds finance relationships with Aston Martin and Morgan.

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3. 2017Leasys begins international expansion

   Leasys expands its operations into additional European markets where FCA Bank operates.

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4. 2015FCA Bank is established

   FCA Italy and Crédit Agricole Consumer Finance form FCA Bank as an equal joint venture; the company obtains an Italian banking licence.

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5. 2009FGA Capital is launched

   Fiat Group Automobiles Financial Services changes its name to FGA Capital and expands its support for Chrysler brands.

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6. 2006Fiat and Crédit Agricole create a finance joint venture

   Fiat Auto and Crédit Agricole establish a European automotive-finance partnership, reorganizing Fidis Retail Italia and admitting Sofinco as an equal shareholder.

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7. 1938Used-car hire purchase is introduced

   SAVA begins financing used vehicles through dedicated hire-purchase arrangements.

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8. 1930Fiat acquires SAVA

   Fiat purchases the entire share capital of SAVA.

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9. 1927Savings collection begins

   SAVA starts collecting savings through interest-bearing bonds and uses advertising to promote financed vehicle ownership.

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10. 1925SAVA is founded in Turin

    Società Anonima Vendita Automobili is established to support credit sales, initially associated with Fiat's 509 model.

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A multi-brand automotive and mobility finance specialist working with manufacturers, importers, dealers and mobility companies to provide financing and leasing to consumers and businesses.

• Vehicle loansConsumer finance1925

  Retail credit for customers purchasing new or used vehicles through participating manufacturers, importers and dealer networks. Historically, lending was closely associated with Fiat and FCA brands; the current CA Auto Bank identity is intended to support a broader multi-brand automotive-finance model.

• Vehicle leasingLeasing

  Leasing arrangements for consumers, professionals and companies. Leasing has been offered alongside conventional credit and is connected with the group's wider mobility activities, including the international development of Leasys.

• Dealer and distribution financeAutomotive finance

  Financing and related services for vehicle dealers and distribution networks. These activities support inventory, sales channels and manufacturer programs and have formed a significant part of the group's European operating model.

• Savings productsBanking2015

  Deposit and savings services, including the Conto Deposito online savings account introduced during the FCA Bank period. The product represented an expansion from captive vehicle lending into broader retail banking.

• Mobility and rental servicesMobility services

  Mobility-related services developed through the group's leasing and rental businesses. Leasys internationalized across Europe and acquired Winrent in 2018, adding short-term rental capabilities to the group's longer-term leasing offer.

• 2023Crédit Agricole acquires FCA Bank and rebrands itM&A

  The end of FCA's former automotive ownership structure and the creation of Stellantis changed the basis of the previous joint venture.

  What changed. Crédit Agricole acquired the business from Stellantis Italy and changed its name from FCA Bank to CA Auto Bank.

  Aftermath. The institution was repositioned as a multi-brand automotive and mobility finance specialist within Crédit Agricole Group.

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• 2015FCA Bank expands from captive finance into banking and mobilityStrategy

  The newly created FCA Bank combined manufacturer-linked finance with an Italian banking licence and a wider international operating structure.

  What changed. The group added savings products, expanded leasing and dealer services, and developed relationships with specialist automotive and recreational-vehicle brands.

  Aftermath. FCA Bank operated as an international banking group and continued broadening its customer and brand base.

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• 2006Creation of the Fiat–Crédit Agricole automotive-finance joint ventureM&A

  Fiat sought to coordinate its European automotive financial-services activities, while Crédit Agricole contributed consumer-finance expertise through Sofinco.

  What changed. The parties reorganized Fidis Retail Italia, merged FiatSava into the entity and established an equal Fiat–Sofinco ownership structure.

  Aftermath. The reorganized business became the platform later known as FGA Capital and FCA Bank.

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• 2019Bank of Italy transparency-controls sanctionControversy

  The Bank of Italy imposed a €2.5 million administrative sanction on FCA Bank, citing shortcomings in the organization and controls related to transparency obligations.

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• 2023FCA Bank changes its name to CA Auto Bank after Crédit Agricole acquisition

  The former FCA Bank became CA Auto Bank after Crédit Agricole acquired the business from Stellantis Italy. The change reflected the end of the former FCA-related joint-venture structure and the bank's repositioning as a broader, multi-brand mobility-finance company.

  M&ALeadership changeOther
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• FCA Bank and VinFast Europe sign European financial-services cooperation agreement

  FCA Bank entered a cooperation and service agreement to provide financial services in Europe for VinFast Europe.

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1. CA Auto Bank
2. CA Auto Bank official website