Fiat/Chrysler article

[baltobernie]

... in this weeks Economist. They raise some good points, chiefly among them is can Chrysler survive until new models debut in 2013. I still think Sergio would have been better off with either Vauxhall or Opel.
http://www.economist.com/node/17575017

[mdrburchette]

Interesting article. It seems we'll be on pins and needles for some time in hopes of Fiat being successful in the US...but, if anyone can turn Fiat around and make it successful, it's Mr. Marchionne.

[spidernut]

Fantastic article. His approach is why other manufacturers such as Hyundai, Toyota and Honda had gone global with production. My Honda was 99 percent built in the USA. To compete globally, you must think globally. He seems to have the right approach.

Chrylser is fixable, but not by just softening the suspensions and upgrading interiors. Their products are horribly unreliable right now. They ranked at the bottom of all manufacturers in Consumer Reports for reliability. GM was just above Chrysler. That's why they couldn't sell cars. Nobody want so spend their free time in the dealership having their $20K car serviced every few months due to manufacturing and engineering issues.

I hope Fiat can make a strong go of it!

[So Cal Mark]

back when Fiat entered into the deal with Chrysler I doubted if they could hold on long enough to be solvent. But, somehow Chrysler sales have rebounded even though they haven't upgraded any vehicles. Whether it was a combination of backlash against GM for filing bankruptcy and taking a bailout, I don't know. But Chrysler dealers are doing well lately. At SEMA there was much more buzz around the new Chrysler performance cars than GM or Ford.

[greaseguncutts]

I do hope every thing does work out well with Fiat and Chrysler. I am curently a Chrysler Technician, Mainly on Cummins diesels, and am hoping that when the owner of our shop gets his Fiat Dealer I can transfer over there. I would really love to work on the Fiats from day one and learn all their diesel technology as it comes to the US. i would love to pop a small diesel in to my 69 Fiat.

[spidernut]

I say that you should wedge the Cummins turbo-diesel from the Ram into your Fiat! It'd never fit, but imagine that torque!

[greaseguncutts]

I say that you should wedge the Cummins turbo-diesel from the Ram into your Fiat! It'd never fit, but imagine that torque!

LOL it would twist the Spider up like a pretzel.