Sergio Marchionne has been one of the most prolific alarmists regarding European overcapacity, and who can blame him? The economy is in the dumps in Fiat’s home market, as well as crucial export markets, and closing a plant would come with all kinds of blowback.
According to a report from Just-Auto, there may be a solution on the horizon, involving Chrysler products built in Italy and exported back to the United States. And it’s either that, or one of Fiat’s Italian plants will have to take the bullet. A Fiat spokesman told the publication
The FIOM, a prominent metalworkers union, refused to sign a deal with Fiat that promised increased compensation packages that were linked to enhanced flexibility at the plants – something which could seriously hamper the Fiat/Chrysler export plans. According to the Fiat spokesman, other labor unions are on board with the plan.
The U.S. export plan has been in discussion since the beginning of the year. A report by Reuters in February quoted FIOM’s National Secretary for the Auto Industry criticizing Marchionne’s plans. FIOM’s Giorgio Airaudo told the news service
Marchionne wouldn’t get specific with what product would be exported, he told the Wall Street Journal that “a lot of these [Italian] plants are going to be producing for the U.S.” While other automakers are lighting their hair on fire regarding over-capacity, Marchionne has a handy escape route; American exports. Even if they aren’t as profitable as American-built vehicles, the unions are kept busy (and happy), plants are fully utilized, and the appetite for Chryslers (and hopefully, an expanded Fiat/Alfa Romeo lineup) is satiated.
If the demand exists and it would not harm US operations then I say have at it. Otherwise Chrysler may just have to become the new fleet queen if they can’t move their US and Italian built iron.
I think GM has this in mind for Opel, which is probably why they more or less killed Buick and replaced it with Opel spec’d models.
If it can be done, doit. Who knows, if the plans work it could be a way for CHrysler to finally gain some sort of presence in Europe. Anyway, the crisis will eventually blow over and (crossing fingers) when it does, what then? If the plant (s) closes will Fiat have enough capacity?
I just spent a week in the UK and Spain and I was surprised how many Chrysler products I saw. Mostly diesel Grand Cherokees, but also several 300s, Sebring convertibles, and PT Cruisers, two Wranglers, one Caravan, and one jacked up Cherokee with a snorkel.
“Italian Made Chryslers A Possibile Solution For Fiat’s Overcapacity Problem”
Quiet possibiley so.
If building cars in Italy for US export is such a good idea, why don’t they build US market Fiats there?
’cause it’s cheaper to build in Mexico most likely. Also, don’t forget that Mexico has a free trade (though now not so free) with Brazil and is a platform for export to this which is Fiat’s most important foreign market.
So much for “Imported from Detroit.”
Seriously though, will it actually be profitable to build cars in Italy and ship them to the US? I know Bimmer and Merc can do it from Germany, but they charge huge mark ups which more than cover the additional cost… but Chrysler? I didn’t think the margins were big enough to cover such additional expense.
Quality designed by Chrysler. Quality built by Fiat.
What could be bad?
What could be bad? Maybe nothing. Let’s see how the Dart sells.
I wish that Sergio Marchionne would get his story right!!
Not long ago he was threatening to build Fiats, Alfa Romeos & Lancias in North America because of the European (particularly Italian) labor costs & conditions. OK the Euro to Dollar rate has dropped a bit since then, but not that much.
One day he says one thing the next he says the opposite (not just on this subject!).
Welcome to management Italian style! Nothing, and I mean nothing, is ever written in stone. Abrupt changes, starts and stops are part of the game. At no point is a project or plan ever definite. Get used to it, as a poet once said, that’s how they roll.