Centro Ricerche Fiat S.C.p.A. (CRF) was founded in 1976 as the Fiat Group's major source of expertise in innovation, research, and development. It was established as a Societ Consortile per Azioni, a consortium, whose shareholders are Group companies. CRF's objective is to use innovation as a strategic lever and to enhance the results of its work through the promotion, development, and transfer of innovative content able to make products distinctive and competitive. It is, therefore, able to play an active role in the technological growth of the Fiat Group, its partners and the community in areas such as powertrain, in collaboration with Fiat Powertrain Technologies, vehicles and components, safe and environmentally-friendly mobility, telematics, new materials and relative technologies, mechatronics, optics, and energy.