UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 17, 2005

                                 CIT GROUP INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

   Delaware                        001-31369                     65-1051192
(State or other                   (Commission                  (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of                   File Number)               Identification No.)
 incorporation)

                           1211 Avenue of the Americas
                            New York, New York 10036
              (Address of registrant's principal executive office)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (212) 536-1211

                                 Not Applicable
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

                                -----------------

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[_]   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
      CFR 230.425)

[_]   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
      240.14a-12)

[_]   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
      Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[_]   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
      Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

================================================================================


Section 1 - Registrant's Business and Operations

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On August 17, 2005, C.I.T. Leasing Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of CIT
Group Inc. doing business as CIT Aerospace, entered into a purchase agreement
with AVSA, S.A.R.L., an affiliate of Airbus S.A.S., to acquire twenty-four
single-aisle A320 family aircraft and five twin aisle A350 aircraft for a total
value based on current manufacturer's list prices of approximately $2.2 billion.
Actual purchase prices at delivery will be lower than the list prices based upon
available discount levels, offset by price escalators based on changes in
certain specified price indexes, and will be further affected by the engine
manufacturer selected and the aircraft specifications. The actual purchase
prices are subject to a confidentiality agreement with Airbus. Deliveries of the
A320 family aircraft are scheduled for 2007 and 2008. Deliveries of the A350
aircraft are scheduled for 2012 and 2013. CIT also has options to acquire up to
twenty-seven additional aircraft. The deliveries are in addition to existing
orders related to previous purchase agreements

Section 9 - Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits.

      99.1  Press release issued by CIT Group Inc. on August 18, 2005.

      This document contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking
statements (including statements regarding future financial and operating
results) involve risks, uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are
beyond CIT's control, which may cause actual results, performance, or
achievements to differ materially from anticipated results, performance, or
achievements. All statements contained in this document that are not clearly
historical in nature are forward-looking, and the words "anticipate," "believe,"
"expect," "estimate," "plan," and similar expressions are generally intended to
identify forward-looking statements. Economic, business, funding market,
competitive and/or regulatory factors, among others, affecting CIT's businesses
are examples of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those described in the forward-looking statements. More detailed
information about these factors are described in CIT's filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2004. CIT is under no obligation to (and expressly
disclaims any such obligation to) update or alter its forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.


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                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                 CIT GROUP INC.
                                 (Registrant)

                                 By:  /s/ William J. Taylor                     
                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                      William J. Taylor
                                      Executive Vice President & Controller
                                      (Chief Accounting Officer)

Dated: August 18, 2005


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