Costruzioni Motori Diesel
Italian manufacturer of diesel and hybrid marine engines, operating under the FNM Marine brand.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Costruzioni Motori Diesel S.p.A., commonly known as CMD, is an Italian engine manufacturer whose principal contemporary business is the design, development, production and marketing of marine propulsion systems. Its marine products are marketed under the FNM Marine name. The company originated in 1971 as FNM, short for Fratelli Negri Macchine Diesel Sud, an enterprise established by the Negri brothers. Its first activities centered on repairing and overhauling earthmoving equipment. During the 1970s, the business broadened into the installation of diesel engines in used passenger cars, giving it early experience in adapting powertrains to applications beyond heavy machinery. A significant commercial relationship with Fiat began toward the end of the 1970s and remained an important part of CMD's industrial activity. In 1980, the company presented the GD 178 AT, a 1.3-litre turbocharged diesel engine designed and manufactured by FNM, at the Turin International Motor Show. This product demonstrated the company's ability to develop its own engine designs rather than functioning solely as an installer or repair specialist. The business adopted the CMD, or Costruzioni Motori Diesel, name in 1991. During the 1990s, CMD expanded into marine diesel propulsion. It inaugurated the Atella 1 facility and began producing and selling marine engines, a direction that became central to the company's identity. Its automotive activities also extended beyond Italy. In 1996, FNM's 1.4-litre diesel engines were fitted to two Fiat-derived passenger-car models produced in India by Premier Automobiles: the Premier 137D and Premier 1.38D. The company continued expanding its production footprint in the 2000s. It opened the Atella 2 plant in 2004 and the Morra De Sanctis plant in 2005. CMD has also maintained industrial links with the Fiat and later Fiat Chrysler ecosystem. In 2013, it signed an agreement to produce engine cylinder heads for Maserati and Jeep, illustrating the breadth of its capabilities across marine, automotive and component manufacturing. Ownership changed in the late 2010s. In 2017, Chinese industrial group Loncin Holdings held 67 percent of CMD's share capital, while the remaining 33 percent remained with Italian interests. CMD's marine engines have been distributed through AS Labruna, a marine-equipment company based in Monopoli, Apulia. The portfolio includes conventional inboard diesel engines as well as hybrid systems. The Blue Hybrid System received an ADI award at the 2019 Genoa International Boat Show, reflecting the company's effort to develop lower-emission and electrified marine propulsion solutions. Reference material also reports that in January 2026 Giorgio and Mariano Negri reacquired Loncin's 67 percent stake, returning the company to full ownership by the Italian founding family. CMD is therefore best understood as a specialized, privately held Italian powertrain manufacturer with roots in mechanical repair and automotive diesel conversion, but with a present-day commercial emphasis on marine inboard engines and hybrid marine propulsion. Its history combines family entrepreneurship, supplier relationships with major vehicle manufacturers, international production and ownership, and a gradual shift toward marine and hybrid applications.
History
Costruzioni Motori Diesel traces its origins to 1971, when the Negri brothers founded FNM, formally named Fratelli Negri Macchine Diesel Sud. The original business repaired and overhauled earthmoving machinery. In the middle and later parts of the 1970s, it expanded into fitting diesel engines to used cars, developing practical expertise in engine installation and adaptation. Near the end of that decade, FNM began collaborating with Fiat, a relationship that became a recurring element of its business. FNM demonstrated its own design and manufacturing capability in 1980 with the GD 178 AT, a 1.3-litre turbocharged diesel engine presented at the Turin International Motor Show. In 1991, the company adopted the CMD, or Costruzioni Motori Diesel, name. During the 1990s, it moved decisively into marine propulsion. The Atella 1 plant was inaugurated and the company began producing and selling marine diesel engines, establishing the sector that would later become its principal market identity under the FNM Marine brand. CMD also pursued automotive opportunities outside Italy. In 1996, its 1.4-litre diesel engines were installed in the Premier 137D and Premier 1.38D, two Fiat-derived passenger cars manufactured in India by Premier Automobiles. In the following decade, CMD increased its manufacturing capacity through the opening of Atella 2 in 2004 and a plant at Morra De Sanctis in 2005. Its work was not limited to complete engines: the company also supplied or manufactured engine components and retained relationships with major automotive manufacturers. In 2013, CMD signed an agreement to produce cylinder heads for Maserati and Jeep. This arrangement illustrated the company's continued participation in automotive supply chains even as marine engines became increasingly important. The company subsequently developed marine inboard engines in several configurations, including hybrid propulsion systems. FNM Marine became the principal commercial identity for this activity, with AS Labruna identified as the official dealer. Ownership changed in 2017, when Loncin Holdings of China held 67 percent of CMD's share capital and Italian interests held the remaining 33 percent. Despite this international ownership structure, the company retained its Italian industrial identity and continued serving marine and engine markets. In 2019, CMD's Blue Hybrid System received an ADI award at the Genoa International Boat Show, providing public recognition for its hybrid marine technology. The available reference material reports a further ownership change in January 2026, when Giorgio and Mariano Negri purchased Loncin's majority stake and returned CMD to 100 percent ownership by the founding family. CMD's historical development therefore runs from earthmoving-equipment repair, through automotive diesel installation and component supply, to a specialized marine-engine business with conventional diesel and hybrid offerings.
- 2026
Negri family reportedly restores full ownership
[1]Reference material reports that Giorgio and Mariano Negri reacquire Loncin's majority stake, returning CMD to full ownership by the founding family.
- 2019
Blue Hybrid System receives ADI award
[1]CMD's Blue Hybrid System is recognized at the Genoa International Boat Show with an ADI award.
- 2017
Loncin Holdings becomes majority owner
[1]Loncin Holdings acquires 67 percent of CMD's share capital, with the remaining 33 percent held by Italian interests.
- 2013
Automotive component agreement
[1]CMD signs an agreement to produce engine cylinder heads for Maserati and Jeep.
- 2005
Morra De Sanctis plant opens
[1]The company adds a further production site at Morra De Sanctis.
- 2004
Atella 2 plant opens
[1]CMD expands its manufacturing network with the Atella 2 production facility.
- 1996
FNM diesel engines enter Premier automobiles
[1]FNM 1.4-litre diesel engines begin powering the Premier 137D and Premier 1.38D in India.
- 1991
Company adopts the CMD name
[1]FNM changes its corporate name to CMD, short for Costruzioni Motori Diesel.
- 1990
Expansion into marine engines
[1]CMD opens the Atella 1 facility and expands into the production and sale of marine diesel engines.
- 1980
GD 178 AT engine presented
[1]FNM presents the internally designed and manufactured 1.3-litre GD 178 AT turbocharged diesel engine at the Turin International Motor Show.
Products and positioning
A specialized Italian engine manufacturer combining diesel-engine engineering with marine propulsion, automotive component production and hybrid powertrain development.
Marine propulsion
FNM Marine diesel inboard engines
CMD's core contemporary product family consists of diesel inboard engines sold through the FNM Marine brand. These engines are designed for marine propulsion and form the foundation of the company's present market identity. The range reflects CMD's historical experience in diesel-engine design, manufacturing and installation, while its distribution structure includes AS Labruna as the identified official dealer.
Hybrid marine propulsion · 2019
Blue Hybrid System
The Blue Hybrid System is CMD's hybrid marine propulsion offering. It represents the company's move beyond conventional diesel power toward integrated hybrid solutions for boats. The system received an ADI award at the 2019 Genoa International Boat Show, giving the product public design recognition.
Automotive diesel engine · 1980
GD 178 AT
The GD 178 AT was a 1.3-litre supercharged diesel engine designed and built entirely by FNM. Presented at the 1980 Turin International Motor Show, it was an important demonstration of the company's independent engine-development capability.
Automotive diesel engine · 1996
FNM 1.4-litre diesel engine
FNM's 1.4-litre diesel engine was used in the Premier 137D and Premier 1.38D, two Fiat-derived passenger-car models produced in India. The application marked an international extension of FNM's automotive diesel business.
Automotive components · 2013
Engine cylinder heads
CMD has also manufactured automotive engine components. Its 2013 agreement to produce cylinder heads for Maserati and Jeep connected the company to premium and mass-market vehicle supply programs within the Fiat and Fiat Chrysler industrial sphere.
Brand decisions
2026
Founding family reportedly buys back majority stakeM&ABackground
After Loncin Holdings had held a majority position since 2017, the Negri family pursued a return to full ownership.
Action taken
Giorgio and Mariano Negri reportedly acquired Loncin's 67 percent stake.
Aftermath
Reference material states that CMD returned to complete ownership by the founding family.
2017
Loncin Holdings takes a majority stakeM&ABackground
CMD sought or accepted a change in ownership while operating across marine propulsion and automotive manufacturing.
Action taken
Loncin Holdings acquired 67 percent of CMD's share capital, leaving 33 percent with Italian shareholders.
Aftermath
CMD operated with a Chinese majority owner and continued its Italian industrial and marine-engine activities.
2013
Expand automotive component manufacturingStrategyBackground
CMD had developed from an automotive diesel installer and engine producer into a business with marine and automotive capabilities.
Action taken
The company signed an agreement to produce engine cylinder heads for Maserati and Jeep.
Aftermath
The agreement reinforced CMD's role as an automotive supplier while its marine-engine operations continued to grow.
Sources1 sources
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