Benetti M&B

Benetti's origins trace back to 1873 when Lorenzo Benetti established the Cantiere Navale Fratelli Benetti in Viareggio, Italy, focusing initially on building wooden commercial vessels. Over time, the shipyard transitioned into constructing pleasure yachts. In the 1960s, Benetti began building steel and aluminum yachts. By the 1970s, the shipyard had become known for displacement yachts.

In 1980, Benetti launched FB 121, known as 'Nabila,' a yacht that garnered significant attention. The company faced financial difficulties in the mid-1980s and was acquired by Paolo Vitelli's Azimut S.p.A. in 1985, forming Azimut|Benetti Group. This acquisition led to a period of restructuring and integration of manufacturing processes. Under Azimut's ownership, Benetti expanded its production capabilities and introduced new yacht series.

Benetti's production is distributed across several facilities in Italy. The Viareggio shipyard primarily handles the construction of composite yachts and provides service. The Livorno facility is dedicated to the construction of custom steel and aluminum yachts, including larger displacement vessels. A Fano site focuses on the construction of composite yachts up to 44 meters.

Throughout its history, Benetti has collaborated with various designers and naval architects. The shipyard has been involved in several innovations, including early applications of composite materials in larger yacht construction and refining build processes for custom and semi-custom series. Benetti maintains a presence in the superyacht market with a range of custom and semi-custom models. The company's strategy involves the development of new yacht series to address evolving market demands, alongside its custom build division.