Fiat had already decided to launch its low cost brand in emerging markets such as the South American market, but given the current economic crisis, the brand could be considered for the Eastern European market as well.

Sergio Marchionne has announced that three new models will be launched in 2010, which could offset sales problems in the current market. The Fiat low cost brand will be competition for products such as Dacia, which Renault successfully launched in Europe. Currently the new Fiat brand is without a name, with suggestions ranging between Innocenti and Autobianchi (neither in my opinion, would be a safe choice!), although something entirely new could come of the venture, including collaboration from tata.

Source | Automotive News

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This deal has quietly slipped under the radar, but is ready to signed as Fiat and the Serbian goverment agree to the cession of Zastava at a figure of approximately 700 million euros. The signing should occur, according to Italiaspeed, next Monday.

The deal has been negotiated by Alfredo Altavilla, vice president of Fiat Group, and Mladan Dinkic, minster for the economy. It will see Fiat take a 70 percent stake in the group, along with manufacturing facilities at Kragujevac, while the Serbian government invests 200 million euros. Signing the deal will be Serbian president Boris Tadic, prime minister Mirko Cvetkovic, Fiat general manager Sergio Marchionne, and Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini.

Via | Italiaspeed

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The commercial relaunch of the Italian company will inevitably pass to the United States, at least that’s what many employees and the protagonist in the launch, Sergio Marchionne, are thinking.

Sergio recently received an honorary degree in management engineering from the Polytechnic university of Turin and has said that “it’s impossible to manufacture cars in Europe and then sell them to the US while making a profit”. Alfa Romeo is evaluating, with calculator in hand, the best adapted facilities overseas for the production of some models from its range.

Continue reading: Alfa-Romeo: American production in Ontario

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Talks with Fiat management have not been concluded on the part of Mercedes, and while no specific projects are underway, programs for the next Mercedes Class A and B have not terminated either. Daimler president Dieter Zetsche, in occasion of the Glk debut event, has reinforced ties with the Italian company, given as finished some months ago.

“I have a lot of respect for Sergio Marchionne”, said Zetsche, “We often catch up. We have discussed a possible base for a Fiat and Mitsubishi-Fuso partnership.” Zetsche also discussed the importance of the Chinese market for their own brand (”a place where we need to be present”), and praised Mercedes growth at 30,700 units, up 44% on 2007, in a market capable of exceeding 10 million units for the first time.

With thanks to Fulvio.

Via | Il Sole 24 Ore

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The agreement seemed ready, such to transform Sergio Marchionne’s denial into a real cold shower: the large relaunch plan for the Sicilian plant of Termini Imerese will not take place.

The managing director of the Fiat group then calmed everyone, underlining that 500 million euro will, however, be invested to acquire the assembly chain required for a new car, substituting the current Lancia Ypsilon with a relative hiring plan of 500 employees. Moreover the colossal 1.1 million euro renewal plan (opening of a second line of production which will increase manufacturing levels to 200,000 cars annually) would have been abandoned in the face of conditions judged “unfavourable”, such as to not reach an agreement on the 430 million euro of public assistance.

With thanks to bibo

Via | ccfa

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A couple of final words from Sergio Marchionne and Luca De Meo, inundated by questions from Reuters at the stand in Geneva’s exhibtion hall, has anticipated juicy scenes about the short-term future of Alfa Romeo.

In view of the debut in the United States, the Biscione management is evaluating the possibility of establishing a manufacturing base in Mexico. The ufficial decision will be finalized by the end of the year: the head-to-head between the central American state and Canada, possibility revealed some months ago, would already be underway.

In a light-hearted moment, De Meo wanted to reassure Alfa fanatics, reinforcing that the desire to restore the brand’s values will not be disregarded: “in occasion of the centennial we will present a never-before-seen model”. On his admission though, the 140 project (the future 149) and the 141 project (the future 169) are not under discussion.

Via | Reuters

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