Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has indicated that the Italian automaker might add a third partner before Chrysler holds an initial public offering, which could happen as early as 2013.
“It’s possible to do an alliance before an IPO,” Marchionne said at the Detroit auto show. Marchionne also stated that he would be willing to be part of a consolidation that would result in a company capable of riving Volkswagen in scale
The most likely candidate for a collaboration is Peugot, Europe’s second-largest automaker after Volkswagen. Fiat and Peugeot’s relationship goes back to the 1970s, when the French company built small vans and parts for Fiat. Citing unnamed sources, Italian newspaper Il Corriere della Sera recently reported that Peugeot was prepared to negotiate a partnership with Fiat.
For his part, Marchionne indicated that talk of an alliance with Peugeot was premature, saying that he had not yet discussed the topic with Peugeot CEO Philippe Varin. Marchionne also stated that a merger with Opel was not in the cards.
An industry analyst who wished to remain anonymous told Automotive News that although a collaboration between Fiat and Peugeot would cut costs, it could be unappealing as it would likely necessitate factory closures for both companies.
References
1.’Fiat eyeing third…’ view
