Fiat gets early Christmas present from Italian labor
Dec. 24, 2011
Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne got an early Christmas present Friday when Italy's labor unions ratified a new labor agreement.
Earlier this month, Marchionne called the tentative agreement "a historic turning point for Fiat and Fiat Industrial."
The agreement, Marchionne said, gives the two companies the ability to use its factories more efficiently with greater flexibility for overtime.
Fiat's labor talks took place against the backdrop of Italy's debt crisis and the growing recognition that the country must reform its economic and labor policies to compete globally.
On Friday, UILM (Unione Italiana Lavoratori Metalmeccanici) said 513 of 630 -- or 81% -- of union delegates that belong to about five unions voted in favor of the agreement.
"This means that ... from 1 January 2012, all employees of the group led by (Fiat Chairman John) Elkann and Marchionne will have a specific contract that protects them and improves economic and regulatory conditions," UILM said in a statement Friday. The new labor agreement covers 86,000 workers in 60 plants in Italy for Fiat and Fiat Industrial.
Leading up to the agreement Marchionne faced tough opposition as he sought more flexible terms in exchange for future investments in Italian plants.
At times, Marchionne suggested that Fiat could move production out of Italy if it could not reach a favorable agreement. Fiat owns 53.5% of Chrysler.
Fiom, Italy's largest and most militant union, did not sign the agreement, but its members will be covered by the agreement. Fiom represents 12.5% of Fiat's workers in Italy.
"Reaching an agreement was not easy, but everyone at the table understood perfectly that perpetuating the models of the past ... was no longer possible," Marchionne said Dec. 13 when the parties reached a tentative agreement.
As another calendar year draws to a close it’s time to take a look back at the top 10 biggest stories of the year in the auto industry. It’s been a busy 12 months, starting all the way back in March when the Fiat 500 officially went on sale, marking the return of the brand to America. The last time an Italian car was sold here that didn’t cost six figures (or close to it) was 27 years ago. Since then, Fiat has introduced the 500C convertible model and most recently the Fiat 500 Abarth, aimed at enthusiasts.
The jury is still out on the Fiat brand’s success in North America, although the first year has failed to live up to expectations, with Fiat predicting sales of 50,000 units, while according to automotive data firm GoodCarBadCar only 17,444 have been sold in the first 11 months of the year (add 5,000 more if you include Canada). Some of this may be the result of Fiat’s marketing initiative with several ads featuring Jenifer Lopez, which the Fiat faithful rejected and many believe cost the brand boss Laura Souve her job. Getting the Fiat dealer network up and running also proved a challenge.
With more models coming, and Alfa Romeo set to return in 2013, Fiat is here to say. More importantly, perhaps, is the Fiat connection to Chrysler – a company it saved from bankruptcy and which it is now slowly rebuilding back into a profitable automaker.
Fiat 500 MPV to be named the Ellezero – going on sale in the US in mid-2012
The Italian based automaker Fiat is planning to introduce a new model in the United States in mid-2012, the Ellezero, which is actually the 500 MPV model.
The fact that the car manufacturer is planning to present the Fiat 500 MPV at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show in March is no longer a surprise, but until now we didn’t have a name for the model. Not anymore, because this will apparently be called the Ellezero. According to the guys at insideline.com, the Fiat Ellezero will be made in Serbia and it will come for the B-segment, being offered in five- and seven-passenger variants.
Our source is also telling us that the Fiat SUSW platform (Small U.S. Wide) will also underpin a new Jeep crossover which will be made in the US, along with overseas replacements for the Punto and Palio. The upcoming Fiat Ellezero will battle the Ford B-Max and the Opel Meriva in Europe and it’s expected to share the same 1.4 liter gasoline engine with the Fiat 500. The Fiat Ellezero will be made at the Fiat Serbian plant and the model will be officially presented to the public at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. The Ellezero will hit the US dealerships in mid-2012.
Fiat and Alfa Romeo get five-year warranty
January 12, 2012.
Fiat Group Automobiles Ireland is introducing a new five-year, 100,000km warranty, complete with five years of roadside assistance cover, on all FIAT vehicles sold in Ireland from January 1, 2012.
The comprehensive warranty package is designed to give buyers of Fiat and Alfa Romeo vehicles added peace of mind in these uncertain economic times and underscores the Fiat Group's confidence in the quality and robustness of the vehicles it produces.
The five-year warranty, which is among the longest available to Irish car buyers, will also help ensure strong resale values as the warranty can be transferred to subsequent owners, provided the vehicles are maintained according the service schedule by authorised service agents.
According to Adrian Walsh, managing director of Fiat Group Automobiles Ireland, next year looks like being a special year for Fiat in Ireland.
“We have an array of new vehicles coming during the year, we have a new flagship dealership opening alongside our new headquarters in Dublin, and now, thanks to this comprehensive five-year warranty package, we are extremely confident of a resurgent and successful 2012.”
Alfa Romeo also gets
five-year warranty
Alfa Romeo Ireland is introducing a new five-year 100,000km warranty that will be standard on all vehicles bought in Ireland from January 2012 onwards. It also comes with five years of roadside assistance cover.
Alfa Romeo boasts of being the first premium manufacturer to offer such a lengthy and comprehensive warranty package which will give the owners of new Alfa Romeo vehicles added peace of mind in these uncertain economic times.
Alfa Romeo also expects the new warranty to give its vehicles an edge with business users and fleet operators who will now be better able to predict the running costs and future value of Alfa Romeo vehicles. In addition to a five-year warranty, all Alfa Romeos offer low fuel consumption and low road tax thanks to their award-winning and advanced engines.
According to Adrian Walsh, managing director of Fiat Group Automobiles Ireland, this is the next stage in the resurgence of Alfa Romeo in Ireland.
“We have competitive and exciting vehicles in the new Alfa Giulietta and revised Alfa MiTo, we have a re-energised and enthusiastic dealer network behind us, and now we have a better warranty than any of our rivals which should finally dispel any reservations people may have about the quality of Alfa Romeo vehicles."
Fiat to manufacture Alfa Romeo in US and export to Europe 2012-01-27
It was recently announced by Sergio Marchionne, Chief Executive Officer of Chrysler and Fiat Group that Alfa Romeo will be returning to the United States. The company has plans of building these vehicles at the US plant from where they will also be exported to Europe.
While this decision has been taken, it will not be until next year that actual production would commence and the reason for this is that the company would like to make 100% sure that these vehicles will be lightweight and fast with Alfa powertrains. Alfa Romeo is predicted to have 1.8 liter turbocharged engines offering 300 horsepower.
Marchionne also added that the company would be exporting vehicles to Europe as it was necessary to reintroduce the vehicle there and that would depend on what response they receive from the US markets. Sales in US will not be all that encouraging at the outset but production activities will have to be based in US as it will prove to be more cost effective for the company.
Fiat to build Jeeps in Russian factories
Marchionne says vehicle is important to Chrysler's growth
Marchionne
Fiat SpA has reached an agreement to with Sberbank Rossii to build Jeeps in Russia, according to reports in the Italian media Sunday.
Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera said Sberbank, which is controlled by the Russian government, has inked a letter of intent with Fiat to open two factories to assemble vehicles under the Jeep name.
The paper said Fiat will own 80 percent of the joint venture, while Sberbank will own the remaining 20 percent.
That is consistent with Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne's insistence that Fiat control any joint ventures involving the Jeep brand — the jewel in Chrysler Group LLC's crown. Fiat took control of the Auburn Hills-based automaker after Chrysler went bankrupt in 2009 as part of a deal brokered by the Obama administration.
Marchionne said recently that much of Chrysler's growth in 2012 will come from expanding Jeep's overseas sales in markets where its name is already well known.
Russia is Europe's fastest growing automobile market, and is set to pass Germany to become the region's largest.
Fiat-Chrysler's February 2012 Global Sales Breakdown
Fiat-Chrysler's February 2012 Global Sales Breakdown
Ram pulling away
April 12, 2012
By: Austin Rutherford
Models included in this month were Argentina, Austria, Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Model Breakdown
Ram 1550-5500 - 27,577
Fiat UNO I,II - 20,060
Fiat Palio, Siena I,II,III / Albea - 19,039
Dodge Grand Caravan - 16,436
Fiat Punto II,III - 16,079
Fiat Panda - 15,916
Jeep Grand Cherokee - 14,941
Fiat 500 - 14,309
Jeep Wrangler - 11,323
Chrysler 200/ Sebring - 10,670
Chrysler T&C/ Grand Voyager - 9,844
Dodge Journey - 9,571
Fiat Strada I,II - 9,393
Chrysler 300 - 8,307
Dodge Charger - 8,249
Jeep Cherokee/ Liberty - 8,088
Jeep Patriot - 6,953
Dodge Avenger - 6,890
Fiat Linea - 6,588
Lancia Ypsilon - 5,312
Alfa Giulietta - 5,082
Fiat Ducato - 4,690
Dodge Challenger - 3,885
Jeep Compass - 3,827
Dodge Durango - 3,812
Fiat Freemont - 3,143
Fiat Doblo II,III/ Pratico - 2,726
Fiat Bravo - 2,710
Fiat Idea - 2,504
Dodge Caliber - 2,251
Alfa MiTo - 2,142
Fiat Fiorino I - 1,621
Fiat Fiorino II/ Qubo - 1,544
Lancia Musa - 1,291
Dodge Nitro - 1,072
Fiat Scudo - 860
Ram C/V - 696
Alfa 159/ Brera/ Spider - 382
Lancia Voyager - 379
Lancia Delta - 288
Fiat Sedici - 183
Ram Dakota - 143
Lancia Thema - 82
Ferrari 458 - 73
Ferrari FF - 31
Maserati GranCabrio/ GranTurismo - 24
Ferrari California - 15
Maserati Quattroporte - 13
Ferrari 599 - 6
Chrysler Ypsilon - 4
Alfa 147/ GT - 3
Ferrari F430 - 2
Fiat Ulysse - 2
Alfa 8C - 1
Chrysler Delta - 1
Fiat’s Maserati brand aims to boost production eight-fold to 50,000 cars by 2015
April 12
MILAN — The luxury automaker Maserati says it plans to increase production to 50,000 vehicles a year by 2015.
The Modena-based carmaker owned by Fiat said Thursday it will introduce three new models in distinct market segments to achieve the new volumes.
Future production will be at the ex-Bertone plant that Fiat bought two years ago outside of Turin, while headquarters will remain in Modena.
Maserati last year shipped 6,159 vehicles, up 8.5 percent from 2010, for revenues of €588 million ($773.4 million). The U.S. is the brand’s biggest market, followed by China.
Maserati’s model range currently comprises the GranTurismo two-door coupe, which has a convertible version, and the Quattroporte luxury sport sedan. Maserati has already said it plans to launch a new SUV.
Mazda and FIAT Team Up to Build Next Generation Miata
May 23, 2012
Mazda announced an alliance with FIAT Tuesday, which will result in the next-generation MX-5 Miata. In addition to a redesigned version of our 2012 Best Sports Car for the Money, the Miata will also gain an Alfa Romeo sibling. Both sports cars will offer the Miata’s lightweight design and rear-wheel drive, but there will be some differences. They’ll be powered by different engines and offer unique styling which will be specific to each brand.
The partnership will offer some new choices for consumers when both cars hit the market, but it’s also a move that will bolster the success of both automakers. The Detroit News writes, “Japan's fifth-largest automaker [Mazda] has struggled since Ford Motor Co. sold most of its stake in the company during the recent recession, and industry insiders say it is desperately needs a new partner if it is to survive.” For FIAT, the partnership should help solidify the brand as a global automaker. Few details have been released, but both roadsters will be produced at Mazda’s Hiroshima factory starting in 2015.
While that production date means we won’t see Mazda’s redesigned affordable sports car for a few years, the partnership will likely result in more collaboration between the two automakers. Jalopnik says that “the roadster tie-up is the sexy part of a proposed European cooperation between Mazda and Fiat that the two expect to hammer out by the end of 2012. Fiat needs a small, rear-drive architecture and Mazda has it. Mazda needs a partner, and Fiat's star is rising.”
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