Designed in response to an Italian Air Ministry requirement for a two-seat cabin monoplane, the SAIMAN 202 prototype (registered I-BOTT) first flew in early 1938.

It had a nose-mounted 120 hp (74 kW) de Havilland Gipsy Major engine.

The first production aircraft were for civilian use with Italian training organisations and designated SAIMAN 202bis.

The 202bis had only minor cabin changes but the next variant (the 202/I) was a major re-design with an improved fuselage re-positioned tailplane.

To meet an urgent operational requirement for military trainers, the Regia Aeronautica ordered a simplified version of the 202 RL as the 202/M in October 1939.