Fiat-Chrysler Will Rename, Possibly Move HQ, Reinvent Alfa

"PelicanHazard" (pelicanhazard) 01/10/2014 at 08:02 • Filed to: FIAT, Chrysler, Alfa, Sergio Marchionne, tips

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In !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , Sergio Marchionne walked the interviewer through the whole process that ended up with FIAT holding 100% of Chrysler, and what that means going forward (more focused on the European side of things).

Of interest, buried in the history of the past few years and concerns that the merger will result in jobs leaving Italy, the interviewer asked Sergio what the new company will be called. "It will have a new name," he responded, along with possibly a new headquarters in response to a follow-up question.

The interview then turned to possible restructurings, and Sergio indicated that the new financials of FIAT-Chrysler will allow a restructuring of the European marques. He stated that the new order of things will see FIAT as the low to mid-range brand, led by the Panda and 500 families, with Alfa getting new models to be revealed in April and Lancia reduced to an Italy-only trademark. There was also the hint that Alfa (minus the 4C) could be sold through FIAT or even Chrysler group dealers in the US, as Sergio boasted that "Now if I present you Alfa in the US, I have a network of 2,300 dealers capable of bringing those cars anywhere in America" ( Ed. - "Oggi se mi presento con l'Alfa negli Usa ho una rete mia di 2.300 concessionari capaci di portare quelle auto dovunque in America", sorry for the poor translation ) No restructuring or fuffing about with Maserati and Ferrari was indicated, which is just fine as they're the top halo marques and do quite well for themselves.

Further news is likely between now and April, when the supposed new Alfas are to be revealed.

AeroEagle333 > PelicanHazard 01/10/2014 at 08:15

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I want to be excited about the possibility of Alfa being sold in America, but I'm afraid we'll get crap compared to what Europe gets.

Kookanoodles > PelicanHazard 01/10/2014 at 09:10

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I bet you they're just going to call it FIAT-Chrysler Group or something imaginative like that.

AMC/Renauledge > AeroEagle333 01/10/2014 at 09:16

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My understanding is that they've delayed Alfa so many times because they have to improve the Euro cars in order for them to work in our market.

We may not get many AWD diesel stick shift wagons in brown, but hopefully we will get cars where the knobs don't fall off and the electrics go on strike as soon as you get it off the lot.

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > PelicanHazard 01/10/2014 at 09:27

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If they go the anagram route and change the name of the company to "Filthy Racers," I'm all for it.

GreenN_Gold > Kookanoodles 01/21/2014 at 19:11

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They could really make headlines if they changed the name of the company to, say, Doug.