Sergio Marchionne, the head of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, says the company will be able to make more than 6 million cars a year by 2018 if its strategy focused on re-launching Alfa Romeo and Maserati proves to be a success.
Fiat Chrysler produced 4.4 million vehicles last year on slow demand in Italy and in some other European markets. “By 2018, Fiat will be capable of making more than six million vehicles,” Marchionne was quoted as saying on Reuters.
Exports of Alfa Romeo and Maserati vehicles are expected to make up for the weak demand in FCA’s traditional markets, with a new plan outlining new models and investments to be presented in early May.
“With the new industrial plan we have the possibility to produce between 6-7 million vehicles a year, but I’m not sure we will get there,” Sergio Marchionne told shareholders at a meeting in Turin, Italy. Not a very encouraging message, if I must say…
However, following the merger with Chrysler, Marchionne added that Fiat is ready to take on the industry’s giants. The executive also said FCA is in talks with Russia about setting up a plant there to produce Jeeps and light commercial vehicles. As for China, one of the company’s main weak points, Marchionne said FCA will make an announcement on production of Jeeps in China within days.
By Dan Mihalascu
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