Chrysler Fiat Deal Confirmed

I don't get a great feeling about this, but it's brave. Fiat has bought itself a seat in the largest car market in the world for nothing. And it has always lacked credible mid-sized and large car offerings. If Chrysler wasn't in such a state it would be a perfect marriage. But then if Chrysler wasn't in such a state Fiat wouldn't be able to afford to do it.

i dunno bristol, i still think this is a fantastic move for both parties. unlike GM, both Chrysler and Fiat have models that ppl actually LIKE (e.g. 300C, Dodge Challenger, Fiat Panda, Fiat 500, Alfa MiTo, Alfa 159 - not, ofc, counting Ferraris and Maseratis). if Fiat uses this as an opportunity to sell Alfas in the States, and in return provides Chrysler with decent diesel engines so they can provide credible small cars in Europe, they'll both be in a fantastic position. moving on from that if they can make a decent mid-sized car that they can sell in emerging markets like India and China then they *could* dominate. but we'll see how it goes, eh ;)?

Despite all the management problems ahead Fiat Will face to restructure Chrysler, I hope Fiat will be able to bring Alfa Romeo brand in the US as a mass production cars by using the Chrysler manufacturing facilities. Please bring the whole range of Alfa Romeo cars in the US with its V6 engines...

Well, good luck Fiat. Wish you all the best. I hope it works. Mercedes failed, and if the efficient Germans cannot do it, hope the Italian flair works!

I can see it's a good deal for Fiat, as they got the infrastructure (be it dealership network or manufacturing facilities) they need to bring Alfa back. Not good news for Chrysler, I don't see what they might want from Fiat.

that will be interesting :P if Daimler couldn't do it will fiat do it ??

Hopefully FIAT/Chrysler will be successful. However, many of you probably don't know Chrysler was in decent shape prior to the Daimler "merger". Opportunist within Chrysler senior management cashed in on the merger and ran out the door. Chrysler was treated like a red-headed stepchild throughout the relationship with and Mercedes would throw them a bone (Outdated chassis platforms, technology etc.) from time to time. Chrysler was better off by itself. Hopefully, bankruptcy will help them restructure, and they can carry on with FIAT's small car offering. Hmm! I wonder if the FIAT will let the Viper live a little longer? Maybe with a Italian flair.

lets hope something good comes of this, id hate to see fiat start to fall because of chrysler.

Diamler bought Chrysler because they were doing well. Stop calling it a merger! The execs ran off and left Chyrsler with nothing. Besides Mercedes diden't want people to think it had anything to do with "lowly" Chrysler, so they weren't going to give them much new technology. Fiat is a brand (except Ferrari and Masserati) fot the common person, like Chyrsler used to be. This will be a good fit because the two companies are more alike in the model line up than different. Fiat also has been trying to get into the AMerican market for years. They now have a dealer network that can support the Alfa and Fiat brands. This could be a win for everyone.

If Fiat is able to change the basic attitude and operation culture in product development, technology and car manufacturing philosophy of that company, Chrysler will be successful.

So our US gov't bails them out, then file chapter 11, then we will give 35% to the Italians? I am confused. Italians make sexy cars, but not reliable. So what will Chrysler gain/lose?

Now that this is formed, I was thinking of a Dodge SRT-10 engined Fiat 500, but that is too unrealistic. Or is it?

Chrysler as it is famous with its Neon and Sebring models in Europe will be definitely a company which have nothing to loose if looking from here.

FIAT cars are, in fact, excellent. I've spent a lot of time in Europe, and know, have owned, and rented FIAT and Alfa Romeo cars. The technology and quality is very good, the style is fantastic, and If you thought having more small cars in America will be a boring hell, then you've never driven a FIAT. Forget what your college roomate told you in 1974, most of the problems arose from US safety and emissions regs, dealer issues in the US, and Russian steel which the company unfortunately obtained in a deal for a factory there. I myself had a 1978 FIAT 131 sedan that was the most enjoyable economy car you could imagine... still on the road 30 years later, too. And current FIAT CEO Sergio Marchionne is a genius, if you read what The Economist had to say about what's he's done at the company, you'd understand just how well run FIAT is. They, in fact, get good quality out of numerous plants in South America and Asia, so they should be able to do something with Chrysler's- you'd think. FIAT's current models are nothing to laugh at, even the smallest FIAT 500 gets a 5-Star crash rating and is very similar to the ultra-popular Mini... but cooler to my eyes. I also rented a small, 4 door FIAT Panda in Greece... it got 40-50mpg on gas, and was a very sporty drive for an econobox. FIAT also makes what we would call a midsize, the Croma... which is like a Taurus, and they produce all matter of trucks. They invented the now widespread "single rail" diesel technology, and their smallest cars get 75mpg on diesel... who needs hybrids? Any portrayal of FIAT as a producer of antiquidated, poor quality little cars is utter nonsense from the uninformed... like USA Today, for one. IMO, they are going to surprise a whole lot of people.

Fiat will not do well in America unless it keeps some of the Chrysler models. Americans don't want Puntos or Palios or 500s...they want bigger cars. Americans want bang for buck, and unfortunately Fiat won't be able to deliver. Now the Alfa Romeo platforms may be great, with the 159 and 166 and Brera...ported through Chrysler...

Sad...!!! Chysler is no longer an American company :(