FSO Polonez History

Introduced in May 1978, the Polonez was FSO's first car on its own platform rather than a foreign licence, though it retained the Polski Fiat 125p's mechanicals beneath a new hatchback body. The exterior was styled by Zbigniew Wattson and Walter de Silva with input from Giorgetto Giugiaro — giving the car a clean, modern European look for its era. It launched as a five-door hatchback and was named 'Polonez' to evoke Polish national character.

A significant facelift in 1991 produced the Caro variant, with modernised headlamps, grille, and bumpers, plus a diesel engine option. The range expanded further: the Atu and Celina brought a notchback sedan from 1996, and a Kombi estate followed in 1999. Commercial pickup and van variants extended FSO's catalogue well beyond the passenger car.

The final Polonez hatchback was assembled in 2002; the pickup continued until 2003. Combined production across all body styles exceeded one million units, making the Polonez one of the highest-volume Polish car lines ever built. Poland's accession to the EU in 2004 opened the market to cheaper Western European imports, effectively ending the domestic demand that had sustained the model.