The official announcement of the new Fiat-Chrysler production plan is scheduled to take place on October 30, yet details have already started to trickle out to the press.
Italian newspaper Il Messaggero reports that group CEO Sergio Marchionne will remain true to the agreement he made with the Italian government on September 22 and keep all of the local factories operational.
Mirafiori was rumored to face the axe, a move that would probably reduce Fiat’s €700 million expected loss this year. However, the plant won’t be shut down but it won’t get to assemble the two small SUVs that the company is getting ready, either.
These two models, the Fiat 500X and the related Jeep-badged small crossover will almost certainly be built at the Melfi plant, which will be the “hub” for both brands’ future B-segment cars.
Marchionne is reportedly hard at work to re-establish the failing Fiat brand image in the European market.
To do so, he is said to be considering a new stand-alone brand based around the successful 500 city car and its derivatives, much like BMW did with the MINI.
The newspaper also reports that the next Lancia Delta will be assembled in the Cassino factory, as will its Chrysler 100 twin that will be exported to the U.S.
By Andrew Tsaousis
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