Picture this a sprawling industrial estate silent and empty. This is the ghost of Mivar’s future. Built in the 1990s this vast complex was meant to be Mivar’s new home. A state-of-the-art factory ready to churn out millions of televisions. But the story of Mivar is not one of smooth progress. It is a tale of Italian ingenuity grit and ultimately bittersweet resilience.
Mivar started humbly in 1945 as VAR Vichi Apparecchi Radio. Carlo Vichi a man with a passion for electronics began building radios in a small workshop in Milan. His initial success led to the expansion and renaming of the company to Mivar in 1955. The name an acronym for Milano Vichi Apparecchi Radio became synonymous with Italian television.
Mivar’s journey was marked by incredible growth. In 1958 the company opened its first factory in Milan employing 400 workers. They produced not just standard table radios but also portable models and even some with built-in record players. Their success was based on simple principles affordable prices excellent customer service and minimal advertising. This straightforward approach resonated with Italian families.
The rise of television in the 1960s changed Mivar’s trajectory. The company expanded its production to include televisions and in 1968 moved its entire operation to a new factory in Abbiategrasso. By 1988 Mivar was the second largest television producer in Italy holding a remarkable 12% market share.
This remarkable expansion paved the way for the ambitious new factory we stand before. Yet ironically it remains a monument to what could have been. The rise of cheaper Asian competitors and the shift to flat-screen technologies overwhelmed Mivar. By 2001 Mivar started to downsize. The new factory remained unused a testament to changing economic tides.
Carlo Vichi an enigmatic figure remained steadfastly committed to his company. He refused government assistance and poured his own funds into Mivar. He famously even offered the unused factory free of charge to any company willing to create jobs in the area.
In 2013 Mivar ceased television production. The company shifted to making furniture under the new acronym Milano Vichi Arredi Razionali. The story of Mivar isn’t solely about technological advancement. It also highlights the human drama of a family-run business facing industrial upheaval.
Today the silent factory stands as a sobering reminder. A reminder of the challenges faced by local manufacturers and the enduring legacy of Carlo Vichi. His stubborn determination against all odds is a story that lives on through the legacy of Mivar in Milan.