Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile

The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile ( FIA ; English: International Automobile Federation ) is an international organisation with two primary functions surrounding use of the automobile . Its mobility division advocates the interests of motoring organisations, the automotive industry and motor car users in the fields of road safety and traffic circulation . The sport division is a governing body for many international motorsport championships and disciplines, including Formula One .

The FIA was formally established on 20 June 1904. It is headquartered at 8 Place de la Concorde , Paris, with offices in Geneva , Valleiry and London . The FIA consists of 245 member organisations in 149 countries worldwide. [ 3 ] As of 2025 [update] , its president is Mohammed Ben Sulayem . [ 4 ] The FIA is generally known by its French name or initials, even in non-French-speaking countries, but is occasionally rendered as International Automobile Federation. [ 5 ] [ 6 ]

The Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus (AIACR, English: 'International Association of Recognized Automobile Clubs') was founded in Paris on 20 June 1904, as an association of national motor clubs . The association was designed to represent the interests of motor car users, as well as to oversee the burgeoning international motor sport scene.

In 1962, the FIA created the Commission Internationale de Karting (CIK, also CIK-FIA), to oversee the growing karting discipline at international level, with a Nations Cup organised in the first year. [ 9 ]

Also in 1998, the karting commission (CIK) gained some independence, becoming known as the Fédération Mondial de Karting (FMK, also known as FMK-FIA and distinct from separate organisations International Kart Federation and World Karting Association ). However the Federation was short lived and in 2000, reverted to being known as the CIK. [ 11 ] [ 12 ]

The FIA announced in 2022 the appointment of its first ever CEO, Natalie Robyn. [ 13 ] Robyn resigned the position after 18 months and as of August 2024 [update] the position remains vacant. [ 14 ]

The FIA's judicial bodies include the International Tribunal, which exercises disciplinary powers that are not dealt with by the meeting stewards , and the International Court of Appeal. The ICA is the final appeal tribunal for international motor sport, which resolves disputes brought before it by National Sporting Authorities worldwide, or by the President of the FIA. It can also settle non-sporting disputes brought by national motoring organisations affiliated to the FIA. [ 24 ]

Each of the seven World Championships report directly to the WMSC, usually to propose amendments to their own rules and regulations.

In response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine , the FIA banned Russia and Belarus teams, and banned the holding of competitions in Russia or Belarus. [ 27 ] It also excluded Russian and Belarusian FIA members from their roles as elected officers or commission members, and banned FIA grants to Russian and Belarusian members. [ 27 ] Individual Russia and Belarus competitors were allowed to enter races as neutrals, without their national symbols, flags, colours and anthems. [ 28 ] The FIA can...

In the 1973 season , the FIA organised the first World Rally Championship beginning with the 42nd Rally of Monte-Carlo to replace the International Championship for Manufacturers . Initially the championship was solely for manufacturers. In the 1977 and 1978 seasons, an FIA Cup for Drivers was included before a Driver's Championship title was introduced in the 1979 season .

In the 1987 season , the FIA sanctioned the World Touring Car Championship . Initially a one-off series for touring car racing , the title was revived in the 2005 season and discontinued at the end of the 2017 season .

In the 2010 season , the SRO Group introduced the FIA GT1 World Championship , which was a championship consisting of one-hour sprint races for GT cars . This world championship ended in the 2012 season . After a switch to GT3 cars in 2012 the series became known as the FIA GT Series in the 2013 season .

After the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) successfully organised the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC) in the 2010 and 2011 seasons, the FIA and ACO organised together the rebirth of the defunct World Sportscar Championship (which was cancelled after the 1992 season ) for both sports prototypes and GT cars from the 2012 season onward, now officially known as the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).

Starting in 2022 season , the FIA and FIM jointly sanctioned the World Rally-Raid Championship . With the Amaury Sport Organization (ASO) acting as promotor and organiser; the separate cross-country rallying series sanctioned by the FIA and FIM were dissolved and merged into the new World Championship.

The FIA was a founder member of the European New Car Assessment Programme , a car safety programme that crash-tests new models and publishes safety reports on vehicles. Mosley was the first chairman of the organisation. [ 34 ] The FIA later helped establish the Latin NCAP , ASEAN NCAP and Global NCAP .

Critics see it as a tool of the motor industry to increase the acceptability of car-based traffic solutions while blocking alternatives. [ 37 ]

Following the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix , which saw the deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger , the FIA formed an Expert Advisory Safety Committee to research and improve safety in motor racing. [ 38 ] [ 39 ] Chaired by Formula One medical chief Professor Sid Watkins , the committee worked with the Motor Industry Research Association to strengthen the crash resistance of cars and the restraint systems and to improve drivers' personal safety. [ 39 ] The recommendations of the committee ...

The CSI determined the regulations and calendar of the major international championships, such as the Formula One World Championship, World Sportscar Championship and European Rally Championship . Meanwhile, the organisers of the individual races (for example local or national clubs) were responsible for accepting entries, paying prize money, and the general running of each event. [ 43 ] In Formula One, this led to tension between the teams, which formed themselves into the Formula One Construct...

Under Balestre's leadership FISA and the manufacturer-backed teams became involved in a dispute with FOCA (named the " FISA–FOCA war "). The conflict saw several races being cancelled or boycotted, and large-scale disagreement over the technical regulations and their enforcement. The dispute and the Concorde Agreement that was written to end it, would have significant ramifications for the FIA. The agreement led to FOCA acquiring commercial rights over Formula One, while FISA and the FIA would h...

During the 2000s, the FIA and its president became increasingly embroiled in controversy over Formula One, while facing threats from teams to establish a breakaway series. A grouping of the car manufacturers involved in F1, the Grand Prix Manufacturers Association , proposed a new world championship , which would allow them greater control over the regulations and revenue distribution. [ 45 ] A new Concorde Agreement eventually ended the threat, but the breakaway series would resurface during ea...

The Competition Directorate of the European Commission and the FIA were involved in a dispute over the commercial administration of motorsport during the 1990s. The Competition Commissioner, Karel Van Miert had received a number of complaints from television companies and motorsport promoters in 1997 that the FIA had been abusing its position as motorsport's governing body. [ 52 ] Van Miert's initial inquiry had not concluded by 1999, [ 53 ] which resulted in the FIA suing the European Commissio...

The investigation was closed in 2001 after the FIA and FOA agreed to a number of conditions. [ 55 ] In order to fairly regulate all international motorsport, the FIA agreed to limit its role to that of a sporting regulator, and would sell the commercial rights to its championships, including Formula One. [ 56 ] This was to prevent a conflict of interest between the FIA's regulatory role and any commercial advantages it may gain from the success of certain championships. [ 55 ] The FIA could no l...

In 2008, accusations surfaced in the British media that FIA president Max Mosley was involved in scandalous sexual behaviour. [ 59 ] In response, Mosley faced a leadership challenge in a vote of confidence at the June 2008 General Assembly. Mosley won the vote by 103 votes in support to 55 against, [ 60 ] resulting in the retention of Mosley as president. However he continued to face criticism from several motoring clubs and motorsport figures. [ 61 ] [ 62 ] Germany's ADAC (the largest European ...