agent Entrepreneur logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Fiat Chrysler Wants to Play Major Role in Industry Consolidation: CEO

Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne wants Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to play a key role in a consolidation of the global auto industry which he sees as inevitable to manage prohibitive capital costs, reported Reuters. Speaking on Thursday to shareholders in Amsterdam, away from Fiat’s historic roots in Turin and Chrysler’s in Detroit, Marchionne said: “We don’t ... Read More »

April 17, 2015
2 min to read


Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne wants Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to play a key role in a consolidation of the global auto industry which he sees as inevitable to manage prohibitive capital costs, reported Reuters.

Speaking on Thursday to shareholders in Amsterdam, away from Fiat’s historic roots in Turin and Chrysler’s in Detroit, Marchionne said: “We don’t want to stay behind in a process that is changing the industry, that is not a possibility.”

Ad Loading...

Marchionne declined to comment about the chances of a tie-up between the world’s seventh-largest carmaker and U.S. rival General Motors, but said the company was talking to many parties, without giving details.

“We have talks ongoing with various operators on various topics,” he said.

Fiat completed its buyout of U.S. arm Chrysler last year and moved the primary listing of the merged group to New York. The company is now incorporated in the Netherlands and has its headquarters in London.

Marchionne said work to spin-off and list luxury unit Ferrari was ongoing and he expected the floatation to happen this year, although he suggested the process may spill over into 2016.

He said the company had no plans to list any other brands.

Ad Loading...

Last year, the carmaker decided to spin off Ferrari, sell a 10 percent stake via a public offering and distribute the rest of FCA’s stake in the luxury sports car brand to its shareholders.

Marchionne reiterated that FCA might introduce a loyalty share scheme as part of the spin-off, which could give long-term investors multiple voting rights, although there was no final decision. This could allow Fiat’s founding Agnelli family to keep their grip on Ferrari even with fewer shares.

“We are evaluating it, it’s a solution that has worked well for CNH Industrial and FCA,” he said.

Marchionne confirmed the company’s targets for this year, even though its individual geographic areas are yielding different results than initially expected.

In two weeks, the carmaker will inaugurate a new plant in Brazil. Marchionne has previously said he expected the Pernambuco plant to help FCA return to double-digit profit margins in that market.

Ad Loading...

Marchionne said margins in the North American region were recovering, dismissing concerns from industry analysts suggesting that FCA’s use of incentives was too aggressive.

“Our pricing policy is in line with that of our competitors,” he said, adding that some models were sold at lower prices because they had less advanced technology than those of competitors.

More Industry

Photo of two men in suit jackets shaking hands next to new car inside of a dealership
IndustryApril 23, 2026

A New Consumer Culture in the Auto Dealership

Dealers should aim to build a positive work environment, helping employees execute an efficient experience, from their online research to the final delivery of the vehicle.

Read More →
Closeup of the side of an Audi car
Industryby Hannah MitchellApril 23, 2026

New-Vehicle Sales Down

A cloudy April forecast was expected due to last April’s sales surge in anticipation of U.S. trade tariff-inflated prices. Meanwhile, automakers pumped up incentives to address today’s consumer wallet woes.

Read More →
Photo of Cadillac Lyriq SUV on road with partly cloudy sky in background
Industryby Hannah MitchellApril 16, 2026

Used Autos Selling for More

A recent price spike due to several larger market forces, though it hasn’t dulled demand, is pushing more consumers to efficient models to squeeze in buys.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Photo of facade of Waldorf Toyota car dealership
Industryby Hannah MitchellApril 16, 2026

Maryland Auto Group Sells

A group out West picked up the major D.C.-area collection, putting it in the upper tiers of private automotive groups in the U.S.

Read More →
Line graphic showing Cox Automotive's March Credit Availability Index status
Industryby Hannah MitchellApril 13, 2026

Auto Lending Opens Up in March

Lenders loosened access for subprime borrowers, and consumers with negative equity reached a record high, Cox Automotive reported.

Read More →
electric vehicle next to an urban charging station. EV Demand Diverges. F&I and Showroom logo
Industryby Lauren LawrenceApril 10, 2026

EV Interest Varies Regionally

U.S. consumer interest in electric vehicles lags behind other countries despite the rising gas prices caused by the ongoing war in the Middle East.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Photo of the rear of a Mercedes GLC 400 electric SUV with a skyline in the background
Industryby Hannah MitchellApril 10, 2026

Brands Weighed on Projected Recalls

Research reveals the brands and models most likely to have higher recall rates over their lifetimes. While some brands rank high, addressing safety issues can be a selling point.

Read More →
Photo of white 2026 Ford Bronco on a sandy beach
Industryby Hannah MitchellApril 10, 2026

March New-Vehicle Sales Don’t Reflect War

Cox Automotive data shows Americans doubled down on big-is-better despite price increases. Slightly higher incentives helped fuel the demand.

Read More →
Photo of several cars on lifts in a service center
Industryby Hannah MitchellApril 9, 2026

Franchised Dealers Stand to Gain Service Business

Cox Automotive research shows both the opportunities and the challenges in turning consumers’ growing affordability needs into increased fixed-operations revenue.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Photo of office desk with open laptop on it and an empty chair next to it
IndustryApril 9, 2026

What Matters Most in Building Your Agency

The partner you choose for growth and expansion is key, because better is the ultimate goal instead of growth for growth’s sake.

Read More →