ÖAF was an Austrian automobile and commercial-vehicle manufacturer founded by Fiat and ultimately absorbed into MAN.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
ÖAF, an acronym for Österreichische Automobil-Fabrik, was an Austrian vehicle manufacturer whose origins lay in Fiat's establishment of Austro-Fiat in Vienna in 1907. The company built a new factory in Vienna and began automobile production in 1908 with a workforce of about 50 people. Its early output reflected its Italian connection, but the business gradually developed Austrian products and eventually concentrated on commercial vehicles rather than passenger cars. The company began producing trucks in 1911, including a four-ton model related to a Fiat design. During the First World War it started developing products of its own. In 1925 the Austro-Fiat name was discontinued and the company became Österreichische Automobil Fabrik AG, commonly known as ÖAF. Around the same time, the sale of Italian Fiat passenger cars was separated into another company, while ÖAF became associated with Austro-Daimler and Puch. ÖAF's product range increasingly centered on light and medium trucks, vans, and buses. Its AFN light truck, introduced in 1925, was among its notable Austrian-built models, and the AF2 followed in 1928. A bus based on the Austro-Fiat 1001 appeared in 1929. From this period onward, passenger-car production was abandoned in favor of commercial vehicles. ÖAF's corporate history became closely connected with Germany's MAN. The company had already begun fitting some vehicles with MAN diesel engines in 1934. Following Austria's annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938, MAN acquired the majority of Fiat's shares in ÖAF, leaving Fiat with a minority holding. After the Second World War, the Vienna-Floridsdorf factory was located in the Soviet occupation zone and was used for reparations. Production resumed after ÖAF was released from those obligations in 1955. Postwar ÖAF supplied trucks for civilian and governmental uses and pursued military-vehicle opportunities. Its Husar vehicle competed for an Austrian military requirement but lost to Steyr's Pinzgauer; only 136 Husar examples were produced between 1967 and 1969. The ÖAF Tornado was more commercially successful and became one of Austria's best-selling trucks. In 1970 ÖAF was privatized again, and MAN allowed it to merge with Gräf & Stift. The resulting ÖAF Gräf & Stift business was fully taken over by MAN in 1971. In addition to manufacturing, ÖAF operated as an importer of foreign vehicles in Austria. It imported Soviet-built automobiles beginning with the Moskvitch in 1958 and later handled brands including Lada and GAZ Volga. It took over the Škoda agency in 1982 and retained it until 1992, when Volkswagen became the new importer. ÖAF also began importing Chrysler vehicles in 1988, but automotive-import activities were transferred to a new company in July 1993. MAN reorganized the company after acquiring Neoplan in 2001, renaming ÖAF Gräf & Stift as MAN Sonderfahrzeuge AG. The company became MAN Nutzfahrzeuge Österreich AG in 2004. MAN vehicles could still be ordered with an ÖAF-badged grille in Austria until 2008, when the marque was finally discontinued. The former ÖAF site in Liesing continued to manufacture MAN trucks, but under the MAN Truck & Bus Österreich name and with MAN branding. ÖAF therefore survives mainly as a historical Austrian commercial-vehicle marque rather than as an independent active brand.
History
ÖAF began as Österreichische Austro-Fiat, a Fiat-backed Austrian manufacturing venture established in Vienna in 1907. A purpose-built factory opened in 1908, initially producing automobiles. Truck production began in 1911, and wartime conditions encouraged the company to develop vehicles beyond direct Fiat derivatives. In 1925 the Austro-Fiat name was replaced by Österreichische Automobil Fabrik AG, abbreviated ÖAF. The company separated its Fiat passenger-car sales activities from its own manufacturing operations and became associated with Austro-Daimler and Puch. It developed light trucks such as the AFN and AF2, as well as buses, and stopped building passenger cars around the end of the 1920s. Commercial vehicles became the foundation of the business. ÖAF had begun using MAN diesel engines before the Second World War. In 1938, after the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, MAN acquired majority control from Fiat. The war and its aftermath severely disrupted the company. The Floridsdorf plant was in the Soviet occupation zone and was used for reparations. ÖAF returned to truck production in 1955. The postwar company produced commercial and special-purpose vehicles and also sought military contracts. Its Husar lost Austria's military competition to Steyr's Pinzgauer, with only 136 Husar vehicles built from 1967 to 1969. The Tornado truck had considerably greater market success and became a leading seller in Austria. ÖAF was privatized again in 1970 and merged with Gräf & Stift. MAN fully acquired the resulting ÖAF Gräf & Stift organization in 1971. ÖAF also became an Austrian importer of foreign vehicles, representing Soviet brands such as Moskvitch, Lada, and GAZ Volga, later Škoda, and eventually Chrysler. MAN's corporate reorganizations gradually removed ÖAF as an independent operating identity. In 2001 the company was renamed MAN Sonderfahrzeuge AG, and in 2004 it became MAN Nutzfahrzeuge Österreich AG. ÖAF badging remained available on MAN vehicles until 2008. The former manufacturing location continued under MAN Truck & Bus Österreich, but the ÖAF marque itself was abandoned.
- 2008
ÖAF branding abandoned
[1]MAN ended ÖAF-badged grilles and continued the former site's operations under MAN branding.
- 2004
Company renamed MAN Nutzfahrzeuge Österreich AG
[1]The Austrian operation adopted another MAN corporate name.
- 2001
Company renamed MAN Sonderfahrzeuge AG
[1]MAN reorganized the business following its acquisition of Neoplan.
- 1971
MAN completed takeover
[1]MAN fully took over the merged ÖAF Gräf & Stift company.
- 1967
Husar production began
[1]ÖAF produced its Husar military-vehicle challenger, with production continuing through 1969.
- 1955
Truck production resumed
[1]ÖAF restarted manufacturing after the end of its postwar reparations use.
- 1938
MAN became the majority shareholder
[1]MAN acquired most of Fiat's shares in ÖAF, leaving Fiat with a minority interest.
- 1929
Bus production expanded
[1]The Austro-Fiat 1001 bus appeared as ÖAF concentrated increasingly on commercial vehicles.
- 1928
AF2 introduced
[1]ÖAF expanded its light-truck range with the AF2.
- 1925
ÖAF name adopted
[1]Austro-Fiat became Österreichische Automobil Fabrik AG, using the ÖAF abbreviation.
Products and positioning
Austrian commercial-vehicle manufacturer with Fiat origins, later positioned around locally produced trucks, buses, special vehicles, and Austrian distribution of imported automobiles.
Light truck · 1925
AFN
Introduced in 1925, the AFN was a light truck with a payload of approximately 1.75 tonnes. It used a Fiat-derived four-cylinder engine and incorporated features such as pneumatic tires, allowing a reported top speed of about 65 km/h. It represented ÖAF's move toward Austrian-developed commercial vehicles.
Light truck · 1928
AF2
The AF2 was introduced in 1928 as part of ÖAF's expanding commercial-vehicle range. It belonged to the period in which the company was shifting away from passenger cars and toward trucks, vans, and buses for the Austrian market.
Bus · 1929
Austro-Fiat 1001
Introduced around 1929, the Austro-Fiat 1001 was a bus derived from the company's earlier commercial-vehicle engineering. Its appearance coincided with ÖAF's decision to focus its manufacturing activity on commercial vehicles rather than private cars.
Military vehicle · 1967
ÖAF Husar
The Husar was ÖAF's entry for an Austrian military-vehicle requirement in the late 1960s. It was not selected for the main program, which went to Steyr's Pinzgauer. Only 136 examples were built between 1967 and 1969, making it a limited-production model.
Truck
ÖAF Tornado
The Tornado was a notably successful ÖAF truck and became one of the best-selling trucks in Austria. It demonstrated the company's stronger position in commercial vehicles than in passenger cars during the postwar period.
Brand decisions
2008
Retirement of the ÖAF marqueStrategyBackground
MAN had progressively integrated ÖAF into its corporate structure through successive renamings.
Action taken
MAN discontinued ÖAF-badged grilles and sold vehicles from the former ÖAF operation under the MAN name.
Aftermath
Truck manufacturing continued at the former Liesing site, but ÖAF ceased to function as an active vehicle marque.
1970
Merger with Gräf & StiftM&ABackground
After ÖAF was privatized again, MAN reorganized its Austrian vehicle interests.
Action taken
ÖAF was merged with Gräf & Stift, creating ÖAF Gräf & Stift.
Aftermath
MAN fully took over the merged company in 1971.
1925
Shift from Austro-Fiat identity to ÖAF commercial vehiclesStrategyBackground
The Austro-Fiat brand expired while the company was developing a more independent Austrian manufacturing identity.
Action taken
The company adopted the Österreichische Automobil Fabrik AG name and concentrated increasingly on trucks, vans, and buses instead of passenger cars.
Aftermath
Commercial vehicles became the company's principal manufacturing business.
Sources1 sources
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