Founder Profile
Alexandre Darracq
Last reviewed: September 2026 · By Swet Parvadiya
Who is Alexandre Darracq?
Alexandre Darracq is a founder of Alfa Romeo, which was founded in 1910 with Ugo Stella and Nicola Romeo.
- Company founded
- Alfa Romeo
- Founded
- 1910
- Co-founders
- Ugo Stella and Nicola Romeo
Background
French automotive pioneer and entrepreneur.
Founding Story
Alexandre Darracq (1855-1931) founded Società Anonima Italiana Darracq (SAID) in 1906, which eventually became ALFA. He initially attempted to sell his French cars in Italy, but the models were entirely unsuited for Italian roads. The financial failure of this venture led to the company being bought out by Italian investors and rebranded as ALFA.
Darracq was born on November 10, 1855 and died in 1931. By 1904 his company was building more than ten percent of all cars made in France, and he sold a large part of the business to British investors. His commitment to a rotary-valve engine proved a commercial failure and he retired in 1912. (Exact birth year remains publicly undisclosed).